Champagne and tears as the title is won
By Liz Randle

SCENES of great jubilation hit the small Hertfordshire town of Baldock on Saturday as the Terracotta army celebrated winning the Dr Martens League Southern Division championship.

An estimated 400 Weymouth fans made the journey hoping to see their promotion-winning heroes crown a wonderful season with the title - and they were not disappointed.

Scores of these supporters, some with painted faces, others decked out in the terracotta and blue, flooded onto the pitch at the final whistle as the 2-1 victory sealed the title.

Champagne and tears flowed freely, illustating the overwhelming sense of joy and relief at the Terras' long-awaited return to the Premier Division.

First-half goalscorer and skipper Alex Browne was hoisted aloft and he thrust the massive wood and silver shield towards the clear blue skies to rapturous applause.

Every member of the squad, who had all played a part in the incredible 15-match winning run in their storming finish, was a hero.

But one particular player hauled in the votes of the travelling supporters as they elected their man of the match - goalkeeper Paul Myers.

In true Roy of the Rovers style, it was his penalty save in the second half which swung the game in Weymouth's favour and a remarkable story lay behind his decision on which way to dive.

The scores stood at 1-1 in the 70th minute when Steve Cook stepped up to the spot after Gary Walker had been bundled over in the box.

A goal against them could have seen the championship trophy snatched from Weymouth's grasp and whisked to Chelmsford

Myers said: "As he stepped up to take the penalty the thing that went through my mind was their programme. "In it they had a picture of him taking a penalty and he was putting it to the right of the keeper. That gave me a psychological boost.

"He sent it to my right as expected, I managed to push it away and that turned the game. Five minutes later we went up the other end and scored."

Eleven minutes were left on the clock when Weymouth grabbed their winner.

Manager Fred Davies said: "This was a much harder game than anybody anticipated - we weren't winning our tackles and I thought we were going to lose it.

"The penalty came, Paul made a great save and things like that happen when you're in the running for the championship."

On a lumpy, bumpy pitch chances were even early on - first Hutchinson's powerful effort crashed away off a defender, then Terry Rowe missed a sitter for Baldock in the 21st minute, sending the ball straight to Myers from five yards out.

At the other end Laws and Darren Powell sent in quick-fire headers but the ball skewed wide, then Rowe dashed clear of the visiting defence only to see his sweet shot strike the crossbar and fly clear.

Gradually Weymouth's strengths began to show and chances started to arrive thick and fast.

Laws managed to round the keeper in the 31st minute but hit the post with his fine-angled shot.

Four minutes later the Terras managed to break the deadlock when they were awarded a free kick ten yards from the centre line.

Powell took the kick and sent it long and hard to the edge of the box, where Browne rose majestically to head the ball over the line of defenders and into the net.

Baldock dominated the early stages of the second half but Terras defenders Powell, Browne, Lee Bradford and John Waldock stood firm and appeared to be weathering the storm.

But they could no nothing to prevent Baldock's 62nd minute equaliser - a howling 20-yard free kick from Ray Kilby which took a wicked deflection off the wall and left Myers helpless.

Within ten minutes the dream seemed to have gone sour for Weymouth as Bradford tried to prise the ball from Walker, the speedy striker crashed down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

This time, though, nothing could spoil the day out - Myers saved, Laws scored and the party began.

Weymouth: Myers, Powell, Hale (Housley 64), Browne. Waldock, Bradford, Robinson, Hutchinson, Adcock, Laws, Mason (Gammon 75).