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Bank Holiday Joy For Terras
By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey
2nd April 2002
On this bright and warm Bank Holiday afternoon,
Weymouth entertained Merthyr Tydfil who, despite their recent
3-2 win over basement jacks Salisbury City looked doomed to
relegation. A welcome face in the stand was David Laws, unavailable
for Newport IOW due to suspension.
After the minutes silence for the passing of Her Majesty the
Queen mother, Merthyr had a dream start; Luke Staton's speculative
cross was missed by the Weymouth defence and Paul Hunt
gratefully stabbed the ball home.
Ex Terra Jason Rowbotham tried a 30-yard shot but it sailed
over the crossbar after 12 minutes.
Weymouth started to take control with Hutchinson bossing the
mid field and Parker controlling the left flank. Hutchinson
was hacked down from behind after 15 minutes, Mr. Knight deemed
fit to only have a quick word with Craig Lima. However, Debutant
Sajic was booked three minutes later after winning the ball
off of Lima in a strong tackle.
Weymouth were now calling the shots as wave after wave of
attacks surged forward although keeper Thomas remained untried
until the 24th minute when a Dean corner picked out Simon
Browne whose header was collected by the Welsh gloveman.
The Terra's equalized after 26 minutes, Hutchinson laid the
ball square to Parker, he sneaked the ball through to Rawlinson
in front of goal, his shot although coming off his shin bobbled
past Thomas.
The nervous Sajic tried a 15-yard shot, which was parried
by Thomas for a corner on the half hour.
Michael Dean put Mark Robinson through with a deft chip over
the defence, his stinging shot could only be palmed away by
Thomas; and right on the stroke of half time John Waldock
pushed forward, his cross was met by Rawlinson whose header
went wide.
So at half time the score was Weymouth 1 Merthyr 1
The disappointing (for Merthyr) Rowbotham was replaced in
the interval.
Weymouth continued to pressure the visitors, and on 50 minutes
Robbo had Thomas back peddling to punch the ball over the
bar. From the resulting corner Dean had the keeper at full
stretch.
The shots were coming thick and fast, Parker was guilty of
blazing over after having made space for himself on the left
on 53 minutes.
Dean spotted Thomas off his line and sent the ball from with
his own half into the path the charging Robbo, he chipped
the keeper but the ball went agonizingly wide.
A minute later Weymouth were not to be denied their deserved
lead, Parker who was absolutely electric on the left, stole
inside, his cross went to Robinson who calmly slotted
home.
Weymouth went 3 - 1 up after another Parker cross passed everybody
in the area but Waldock was lurking at the far post, with
just a hint of offside he passed back across the face of goal
for Simon Browne to smash home.
This was the sort of game that you never want to end, Alex
Browne and Cross were awesome in defence, Waldock made some
useful deep runs to support the mid field and Sajic grew in
confidence with every minute.
On 80 minutes Robinson won the ball on the by line, with his
back to goal he held up the ball until the arrival of Sajic,
his pass to the rookie was well controlled as he tried to
flick the ball past the keeper to the awaiting Parker but
Thomas managed to get a hand to it.
But a minute later Parker was rewarded for his efforts
with another storming run and a cracking shot that with some
luck ricochet off of Clarke's backside and looped over Thomas's
head into the back of the net
As the clock ran down, Bew's replaced Sajic, Carl Mutch came
on for Parker and in a desperate move "chopper" Newland substituted
Dean.
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