Weymouth Squander Two More Points
By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

26th August 2001

Jeckyll and Hyde Weymouth continued their topsy-turvy start to the season with an impressive first half display and dour second half performance.

Weymouth had Mark Robinson and Lee Phillips providing the action in the opening minutes. Robinson misjudged JR's through ball into the box, and then Phillips over-ran David Laws' pass.

On 14 minutes, Simon Browne's 40-yard pass found Robinson in space, but his cross from the by-line was saved by Knight in the Welling goal.

Weymouth played some exciting flowing football to which Welling had no answer.

After 25 minutes, Weymouth took the lead. JR supplied Phillips with a defence-splitting cross, Lee rose high to flick the ball passed the floundering Knight into the old onion bag.

 JR was pivotal in all of Weymouth's moves and when he found Robinson on the half-hour, Curly's half snapped shot went wide.

A brilliant build up involving Dean, Robinson, and JR, released Phillips, whose 12 yard shot was pushed over by Knight in the Welling goal. From the resulting corner, Alex Browne was inches from making it two-nil.

Terras'  supporters were enjoying some fine approach work and were in good voice as Weymouth were no comparison with their performance of four days earlier.

Welling's Peter Overton was booked for a very late tackle on Mark Rawlinson, as was Mike Rutherford who scythed down Michael Dean.

On 43 minutes, Lee Phillips stood firm in the Welling area as challenges flew in around him and, with his back to goal and the ball bouncing high, his acrobatic scissor kick flew over the keeper, but Weymouth were to be denied their second goal by the cross bar.

Half-Time: Weymouth 1 Welling 0

Straight from the kick off, David Laws found Mark Robinson, who dummied into the box, but showed Knight too much of the ball, who, quick off his line, snatched the ball off Curly's foot.

58 minutes, JR-Laws played a delightful one-two, but JR's shot was cleared for a corner.

In the scorching sun, the temperature on the pitch began to rise as challenges became more frustrated from the visitors, unfortunately, Mr. Johnson failed to take control and there was a real danger of somebody getting hurt.

Dean Standen cut down Lee Phillips and, to add insult to injury, stood on his ankle. This incensed Lee who pushed Standen to the floor. Standen was booked for his trouble and Lee was also yellow carded, although he could consider himself lucky not to be dismissed from the field of play for raising his hands.

On 63 minutes, Potter fisted a Simon Glover cross over the bar for a corner and, seven minutes later, with Potter beaten at the near post, Garry Abbott missed the simplest of tap-ins.

Welling equalised after 75 minutes, when Alex Browne was forced off the ball by Dave Fleming on the Wings' left flank, his cross was blocked, but the rebound fell to substitute, Dean Standen, who toe-poked the ball home.

Darran Rowbotham entered the fray after 78 minutes in place of Mark Rawlinson. Six minutes later, John Waldock replaced Alex Browne.

Intense Weymouth pressure in the closing moments failed to break down the physical Welling back line. Appeals for a penalty after a push on Mark Robinson was turned down, although, judging by the appeals from the terraces, the officials had got it wrong.