|
They've done it
By Liz Randle
CHAMPAGNE corks were popping in Weymouth last night as the
news came through - the Terras will be playing Dr Martens
Premier Division football next
season after a break of five years.
Three second-half goals had given Weymouth victory over Cirencester
Town on Saturday, then yesterday afternoon former Terra Steve
Lovell's goal earned Tonbridge a 1-1 draw against Bashley.
The New Forest side had needed victory to make it possible
for them to overhaul Weymouth's 92-point total. Now the Terras
are assured one of the two promotion places and only Chelmsford
can snatch the championship title from their grasp.
Manager Fred Davies said today: "I am delighted for
everybody at Weymouth. From a personal view, everybody has
shown me so much warmth and hospitality since I've been there.
The players have responded and it's down to their efforts
that we're in this situation.
"Now that we've achieved promotion we need to be positive
that we can go on and win the thing - we will not be letting
our foot off the accelerator."
Club president Don Stevens said: "The last few seasons
have been a bit of a nightmare, realising how low we had dropped
and how hard it was to get out. Now there is a new spirit
in the club and I feel sure that it will not be long before
we are back in the Conference where we belong."
Meanwhile Dorchester chairman Colin Clark congratulated the
Terras and said the Magpies looked forward to next season's
local derbies.
"It will be good to have them back in our league because
it will stimulate more local interest in both clubs,"
he added.
"To win 13 games in a row is good going by anyone's
standards, although I can promise them they will find it a
lot harder in the Premier Division."
A 2000-plus crowd had watched the Terras struggle during
the first half against Cirencester at the Wessex Stadium.
Weymouth had already had two shots stopped by keeper Kevin Sawyer
when the unthinkable happened in the 20th minute - the visitors
took the lead as Matt Jack
latched onto a deep cross from the left and whipped the ball
home.
It was Cirencester's only real chance of the half and for
the remaining 25 minutes they were, subjected to a bombardment
of their goal as the Terras pressed for an equaliser.
Paul Adcock and Ian Hutchinson both had excellent efforts
saved by Sawyer at point-blank range and David Laws and Alex
Browne were denied by the woodwork.
Then in the 42nd minute they had a strong appeal for a penalty
turned down as Mark Gammon went down in the box surrounded
by a posse of Cirencester defenders.
But the half could easily have ended in disaster as keeper
Paul Myers was forced to kick away a bad hack-pass under pressure.
The ball struck the back of visiting striker Matthew Rose
but lady luck smiled on the Terras as it rebounded to safety.
Davies had a few words for his nervy-looking side at the
interval. "I told them off in a nice way," he said.
"They were all so scared of doing anything wrong that
nobody dared to do anything.
"This was always going to be the hardest game of the
lot - the last home game in front of a big crowd and against
a team everybody
expected you to beat.
"It was understandable for the lads to be nervous but
once they managed to shake off the self-protection thing we
began to play again."
And it was a scarcely recognisable side which came out after
the break and immediately began to chip away at the visitors'
resolve.
In the 49th minute they were rewarded for their efforts as
a ball into the box struck the hand of a Cirencester defender
and Laws gleefully converted Weymouth's 100th goal of the
season spot.
The crowd resumed their singing and were repaid with some
approach-work from the Terras
Hutchinson again had a effort flicked away. Browne left the
crossbar shuddering with another header and Mark Robinson
flew into the box but his fiery shot was blocked by the on-form
Sawyer.
Then in the 79th minute the goal everyone had been waiting
for - Adcock kept his head latched onto a through-ball, lured
Sawyer off his line and finished with great poise.
It was his first goal for Weymouth and it could not have
come at a better time.
They made the game safe in the last minute of normal timw
when Hutchinson, who had a magnificent game in midfield, set
Laws a dainty chip and the striker ran clear on goal, rounded
the keeper and tucked away his 38th goal of the season.
Laws celebrated his achievement with a trio of trophies after
the game - the 1997-98 Player of Year, Players' Player and
Top Goalscorers awards. Only Mark Robinson managed to prevent
him collecting a full house by picking up a well deserved
Away Player of the Season award.
Weymouth: Myers. Powell, Hale, Browne, Waldock, Gammon, Robinson,
Hutchinson, Adcock, Laws, Mason. Unused subs: Housley, Flory,
Heath
Attendance: 2,087.
|
