Weymouth Wobble At West Leigh
by Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

16th March 2002

Weymouth ventured onto the sodden slope of West Leigh Park facing a rampant Havant & Waterlooville still seeking an outside chance of promotion.

The visitors were under the cosh for the opening encounters although Hutchinson had converted a beautiful pass from Rowbotham into the back of the net, but Mr Bull had stopped play because of an ankle injury to Gareth Hall, there was no infringement as the game was re started on a bounce up.

Such was Havant's control of the game in the first ten minutes, I wandered down to their end to take some photo's of our gallant lads defending, whether this was a good move or not, but Weymouth took the game to Havant and ran them ragged.

On sixteen minutes Michael Deans 20 yard pass picked out Parker, without breaking his stride he whipped past his marker, drew the keeper and calmly slotted the ball home.

Four minutes later Robinson was set up by Parker, Curly ran goal wards, like Parker he drew the keeper but his shot was stopped by the outstretched leg of Nicholls in the host's goal. In a carbon copy move, Robinson this time witnessed Nichols make a great save to keep Weymouth's lead down to one goal.

From the odd occasion that Havant tried to move out of their own half their attack was stifled by the well marshalled back line of Waldock, Cross and the Browne's.

Weymouth went further ahead after Paul Payne launched the ball up field, Hutchinson flicked on to Parker, who, just as he had done 17 minutes earlier drew the keeper and slotted home from a tight angle.

Whilst the Terra's faithful celebrated, most failed to notice Alex Browne hobbling off the field with an injury to his left knee; Mason obviously felt confident and changed the system around and replaced Browne with Underhay, this was Weymouth's undoing and right on the stroke of half time Payne failed to cut out a shoulder high cross and Taylor with a reflex kick diverted the ball into the back of the net.

So at half time unfancied Weymouth led their hosts by two goals to one.

Weymouth continued to embarrass Havant in the second half, Underhay's positioning was spot on as he found ways around the Havant back line time after time, unfortunately his footballing skills let him down as a number of guilt edge opportunities came and went.

Hutchinson was guilty of failing to convert after all the hard work had been done and Parker was denied his hat trick by the legs of Nicholls.

Havant equalised totally against the run of play when Dean manhandled off the ball, Mr Bull had his head in the clouds as Taylor lashed his shot home.

The home side could scent victory although Weymouth continued to show them what flank play is all about, but the inevitable happened, A Havant cross eluded Payne and Taylor wandered unmarked in at the far post to poke home for his hat trick.

Parker was substituted on 80 minutes much to the vocal dismay of the Weymouth support, little did they realise that the lad had asked to be taken off as his hamstrings were tightening up.

Payne made amends for his earlier pho pars with a superb one-handed effort to deny Hambley, but the damage was done and Havant had the points in the bag.