Third time lucky
By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

13th March 2002

For the third time of asking this Doc. Martens Premier division fixture against Merthyr Tydfil at Penydarren Park kicked of in still airs and blue sky and ended with gale force winds and lashing rain.

Weymouth took the game to their hosts on the well-tended playing surface; Alex Browne set free Underhay on the right flank. Unders raced goalwards, entering the area his shot beat the keeper but went wide.

At the other end Jim Rollo hit a shot from distance, which flew past Payne's upright. In Merthyr's very own Barbara Windsor stand passions were high, and every Weymouth tackle, every officials decision against them was met with howls of derision and boos.

With 21 minutes gone, a Michael Dean free kick looked to have been hit too long, but Robbo ghosted in at the far post, his well-hit shot was turned round by Thomas in the home sides goal.

Weymouth played lots of tippy tappy in midfield whilst not really worrying their host's, whilst the Martyrs had a more direct style that had our ageing back line using every method to hamper their progress.

Kevin Parker was enjoying himself out on the left hand side of the park, running at the opposition at every opportunity.

A goalmouth scramble after Payne had spilled the ball eventually saw Weymouth clear the danger on 38 minutes whilst minutes before half time Merthyr had the ball in the net but the vigilant linesman had his flag raised much to the despair of the home support.

The best move of the half witnessed Weymouth move the ball from flank to flank then carve open the Merthyr defence for Hutchinson to fire just wide.

So at half time the scores remained level although both sides had some good chances to score.

Right at the re start, Underhay set up Robinson at the far post but again Curly was denied by Thomas's legs.

The home side belied their lowly position and took the game to Weymouth but they had not counted on rookie keeper Paul Payne being on top of his game as time after time he denied the encamped home side.

"Dogged defending" was how Alex Browne summed up Weymouth efforts in the bar after the match and the jinx that Weymouth have not lost in Wales to Merthyr since 1956 also stood the visitors in good stead as somehow shot after shot was skied, miss kicked or saved by Payne.

Jamie Edwards will rue his 75 minute miss. With the ball at his feet at the far post and no more than a yard out he some how sent his shot wide.

Weymouth started to grow in confidence as the Martyrs tired of banging their heads on a brick wall that was the Weymouth defence.

Meek, mild, quiet and unassuming Rawlinson was booked for dissent (kicking the ball away at a corner) at the height of the Martyrs blitz but Weymouth broke the home sides hearts on eighty-one minutes. Waldock pushed the ball across the park to Hutchinson, he flicked the ball to Dean out on the right flank, his 30 yard pass to Rowbotham was collected by the pork pie in a synagogue front man; Out on the left flank a good 25 yards out, his left foot shot curled past the keeper and into the top corner of the net. The visiting fans went wild (all seven plus two directors) but there were still nine minutes on the clock and with Mr. Gooding finding another five and one half minutes of time added on it took two more fine saves from Payne to ensure that Weymouth returned over the bridge with all three points.