Robber Rawlinson Clips Wellings Wings
By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

31st March 2002

On a warm bright spring day, a depleted Weymouth side faced a Welling outfit that had returned six points from their previous two games. 

Welling's ground is considered as one of the poorest in the league with ramshackle facilities and crumbling terraces although much needed improvement are now in evidence with the construction of a new stand (paid for by Erith and Belvedere); the perimeter may be poor but the playing surface was in excellent condition and is a credit to the ground staff considering how many games are played upon it.

Waldock and Rowbotham were casualties of a flu bug, and so Portland United reservist Mark Finch lined up with Mark Robinson to take the fight to the Wings.

The Terra's went one down after five minutes, Tommy Tyne latched onto a loose ball just inside the visitors half, racing a full forty yards he unleashed a left foot shot that gave Payne no chance.

Two minutes later it could have been two, Dean gave the ball away to Dave Powell, whose left foot shot flashed inches past the far post. It was all Welling as the Terra's were on the back foot for long periods of time. On twenty minutes the Weymouth defence creaked allowing Powell to burst through, his fifteen-yard shot went embarrassingly wide. With half hour gone Weymouth had to be content with living off the scraps of their hosts poor passing and when they did venture up to Wellings area they were never any real threat as Wayne Browne and Edwards cut out any Weymouth attack.

Mark Finch found space out on the right flank; his cross across the face of goal was just missed by the sliding shape of Hutchinson. Play swung to the other end as Gary Abbott beat two Weymouth players on the left hand side of the area; his shot however was well blocked by Payne.

So at half time the score was Welling 1 Weymouth 0

Payne came to the Terra's rescue after forty-eight minutes saving point blank from Powell.

Playing down the considerable slope Weymouth started to force themselves into the game, Alex Browne was outstanding in the Weymouth defence, his cover tackle on Gary Abbot set up a Weymouth attack, setting Kevin Parker free out on the left, his electrifying pace took him past two defenders before unleashing a shot that was just inches over the crossbar.

Mark Finch went down after an innocuous tackle right on the hour; he was replaced by Michael Sajic. Mark Robinson led the line well as he tore down the left flank, his cross went across the face of goal but no one was there to poke home.

Robinson and Parker combined well to set up Rawlinson, his shot just flashed over, a minute later with the Terra's taking the fight to the home side Rawlinson again shot wide.

On seventy-seven minutes Sajic put Parker through but Glen Knight was quick off his line and smothered the danger.

Weymouth equalized on eighty one minutes, a mix up in the Welling defence witnessed Rawlinson sneak the ball off Watts toe, clean through he slipped the ball past the luckless Knight.

Dave Newland came on in the final minutes in place of Danny Bews as Weymouth played out the final moments of the game.