Matthews signs off with silverware

12 Apr 2017 By David Watters

Jason Matthews celebrated signing off as manager of Weymouth on Tuesday by guiding the EVO-STIK League Southern's Terras to an extra-time victory in the final of the Dorset Senior Cup.

Pictured with the county silverware after a 1-0 win over Gillingham Town at the Avenue Stadium, the club's legendary keeper announced he was standing down after three and half years at the helm last week.

The 42-year-old left on a high after Stéphane Zubar's 114th winner for the EVO-STIK League Southern Premier Division club finally breached the defence of their opponents from the Western League's Premier Division in the second period of extra-time, a year after they beat them 2-1 in the 2016 final.

Matthews, who departs with former charges secure in mid-table and assured of their top flight status next season, first played for the Dorset club between 2002 and 2008 before returning at the start 2013-14 and becoming player-manager in December 2013. Before ending his second spell, he'd made more than 400 appearances.

Before hosting Chesham United on Good Friday, Terras officials will come a step closer to appointing their new manager when the deadline they set last week for potential candidates to apply for the newly vacated post closes at 5pm on Thursday.

Weymouth became the fifth EVO-STIK League Southern club so far to win county silverware this season on the night alongside two other winners from the top flight after EVO-STIK League Southern Division One Central clubs Fleet Town and AFC Dunstable led the way last week with triumphs in the Northants Senior Cup and Bedfordshire Senior Cup competitions respectively.

In the climax of the Hertfordshire Senior Cup, Hitchin Town inflicted more pain on relegated National League South outfit Bishop's Stortford with a 2-1 win at Hemel Hempstead Town's home while Kettering Town needed extra-time and penalties to overcome EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Corby Town 7-6 in the shoot-out at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium in the final of the Northamptonshire Senior Cup.

Images courtesy of Rob Quincey/@theterras

Follow the EVO-STIK League Southern on Twitter at @SouthernLeague1

Where next?

Singing now whatever happens! Promotion-chasing Hitchin Town ensured their season will end with silverware whether they go up or not after coming from behind to beat Bishop's Stortford in the final of the Hertfordshire Senior Cup.

Sykes reign ends at Meadowbank Shortwood United have named former reserve team boss Paul Meredith as caretaker manager until the end of the season after parting company with Alex Sykes on Tuesday.