Top Marks For Terras
by Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

18th November 2001

Weymouth overcame a strong Chelmsford outfit to bag the three points thanks to a last minute winner by David Laws making his 300th appearance in the terra cotta and blue.

Weymouth started off with three corners in the opening five minutes, playing the ball around the Chelmsford defence looked shaky.

Chelmsford got into their stride and used the flanks to good advantage, usually a trait of the home side. On 12 minutes Richard Skelly fired in a 25 yard shot that cleared Potter but sailed inches over the bar, play switched to the other end as Phillips scorching 20 yarder stung the fingers of Richard Hurst in the visiting goal.

With this ping pong game play went the other way, Rawlinson was left for dead Lee, his cross was drifting across the six yard line and Potter was changing his body shape to cover the far post when Williamson stuck out a toe between Waldock and Alex and somehow Potter got down to make a one handed save to keep the scores level.

Chelmsford continued to pressure Weymouth, who by playing 3 at the back looked exposed to the visitors flank play, although Weymouth were not outplayed as they pushed forward in this entertaining tussle. Rawlinson in one of his rare forays up field tried his hand (or boot) from 18 yards but his effort was well held by Hurst. Right on the half hour, Robinson jinked into the box and with only Hurst to beat the gloveman pushed out his challenge, from the clearance Lee pushed forward on the left flank and sent in a cross to Lewis whose header went over.

Alex Browne made a trade mark surging run into the box, his shot was stopped by Hurst; on 41 minutes, from a Weymouth corner a half clearance fell to Dean, he walloped the ball from 30 yards and the ball screamed just past the upright.

Right on half time good linking play between Rawlinson, Laws and Robinson saw the latter shoot over the bar.

From the restart both sides looked for an opening, Phillips made a storming run on the right flank, cut inside and his thunderbolt of a shot was well saved by Hurst, a minute later Hurst again was horizontal reaching out for a Michael Dean shot.

Weymouth took the lead on 51 minutes, Waldock put Laws through, his shot was only parried by the keeper and Robinson was on hand to slot home. The home side hit a purple patch and attacked Chelmsford from all sides, Laws, Phillips, Hutchinson, Robinson and Alex Browne were all denied by the hard working Hurst.

Chelmsford's Russell Williamson hit the cross bar with a header on 70 minutes, and the visitors forced three corners in as many minutes. J R was called into the fray with only 6 minutes on the clock, he was immediately in the action as Weymouth fought a rearguard action as Chelmsford threw everything forward.

Composure was regained after Potter snuffed out a Chelmsford cross and threw out to Rawlinson he pushed the ball through to Phillips who crossed to JR his 25 yard drive was inches away from the upright.

But the Terras made it 2 - 0 when Phillips pounced on poor Chelmsford passing on the halfway line, he ran into the box and with the goal opening up for him he set the ball back for Laws who gratefully drove home from 10 yards, the ground erupted as everybody celebrated Lawsy's 184th goal for the Terras.

Whilst most in the ground were still enjoying Lawsy's effort Chelmsford's Junior Samuel's put the ball in the net with the last kick of the game.