Weymouth's bubble bursts
By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

16th December 2001

The Terras, a rare sighting in December, finally ran out of luck here today at the Wessex Stadium.

Blessed with almost 80% of the possession they failed to conquer a poor Moor Green side that came to spoil and settle for a point, and went away with all three from their only real shot on goal.

Weymouth started as brightly as the crisp December sunshine, pinning Moor Green back in their own half, Dean sprayed the ball around well from midfield giving the flank men ample opportunities to open up the visitors' rear guard.

After 12 minutes Matthew Hale made a fantastic run from all of 40 yards, through the heart of the Moor Green defence and unleashed a stinging shot that Rachel in the Moor Green goal did well to palm away.

The game was constantly interrupted by "injuries" to the visiting side aided and abetted by our old friend Mr. Tim Curtis from Bath trying out his whistle at every opportunity. This hampered the contesting teams throughout the game as wrongly adjudged decisions went against both sides.

Moor Green finally got out of their own half on 20 minutes; substitute Jamie Petty's shot cleared the terrace roof from 8 yards out.

Phillips, so strong up front, made a searing dash down the left flank, cut inside with an eye on goal, only to be bundled down by Martin Myers. Curtis gave the free kick, but failed to speak to the stocky midfielder who was living a charmed life. From the free kick, Cross headed down to Phillips, but the ball stuck under his feet and he failed to convert.

Laws set Robinson free on the right flank, his bye line cross shot across the face of goal, but no Weymouth foot was able to poke the ball home.

Laws beat three men that surrounded him only to be bought down by that man Myers right on the edge of the box. The resultant free kick was wasted.

Simon Browne was incredibly booked for a well-won challenge in the middle of the park on the half hour.

On 42 minutes, Phillips, wide on the right, somehow kept his balance as he was manhandled and kicked, beat his man, rode another dangerous challenge (this happened about six foot in front of me, with the linesman standing close by, yet no attempt was made to wave his flag) and set in a low cross. Hutchison connected well, but Rachel pulled off a good save to push the ball out for a corner.

Right on the stroke of half time, Potter was called upon to deal with a weak shot that was struck by Nathan Lamey.

With only four minutes of injury time played Curtis blew up for the first half, the time keeping anoraks advised me afterwards that there was at least nine minutes of time that should have been added on.

Weymouth continued to push forward from the off of the second half, a nasty challenge on Matthew Hale in front of the dug out witnessed Moor Green's Robinson receive a yellow card. Hale was replaced by Parker soon after. With the free kicks coming thick and fast, Michael Dean sent in a precision effort to the head of Ryan Cross, Rachel acrobatically got down well to smother the danger.

With nearly an hour gone, Parker made a storming run down the left flank, racing into the box he played a 1-2 with Laws but, with the keeper beaten and in front of goal, Parker side footed the ball against the post from 5 yards.

Two minutes later, Robinson burst through the Moor Green defence but his shot was saved by Rachel. Parker was being used well on the flank, beating Richard Robinson for pace on every occasion the big number 2 resorted to strong-arm tactics on the lightly built lad from Torquay.

Parker made another storming run down the left flank after 64 minutes, flicked the ball to Laws, but he was bought down by Myers. Dean's free kick bobbed around in the area, but no one was there to send the ball goalwards.

Against the run of play, Moor Green scored. Mark Crisp beat and rounded Robinson out on the left flank, his cross was forcefully met by Myers whose cracking volley from 25 yards gave Potter no chance.

Darran Rowbotham came on for Robinson after 72 minutes and immediately the oft-criticised playmaker weaved his magic. His flicks and intelligent passing opened up the Moor Green defence, but Phillips and Laws were found wanting when the final shot was needed.

The final 10 minutes was, as expected, frantic with even Potter coming up for corners and free kicks, and although Ryan Cross had his header from 8 yards rebound off the woodwork and Rawlinson and Dean both saw goal bound efforts clawed away by the visiting glove man, Phillips was guilty of trying to beat one player too many with Laws waiting patiently in front of goal for the tap in.