Terras Stand Up To Defeat The Romans
by Paul Baker

26th March 2003

Weymouth answered manager Geoff Butler `stand up and be counted' appeal in style at the Wessex Stadium, last night.

After a run of three dismal performances which had seen them nose-dive back towards the Dr Martens Premier Division relegation zone, the Terras boosted their survival hopes with a spirited display against Bath City at the Wessex Stadium.

The passion and commitment sadly lacking in recent weeks was back in abundance as goals from Ian Hutchinson and Steve Tully capped a fine all round display by the injury-hit Dorset side.

The Terras made the most of a cagey opening by City with Lee Phillips making a nuisance of himself right from the off.

Twice he went close in the first five minutes and it was his flick on from a Hutchinson corner that led to Toby Redwood shaving the base of the post with a header on the quarter hour.

Bath always looked useful going forward and they would surely have gone ahead had it not been for a great save by Jason Matthews in the 17th minute.

One time Terras target Stuart James delivered a pin-point corner from the left which was met by a thunderous Mike Trought header. But the Terras keeper stood his ground to narrow the angle before tipping brilliantly over the cross bar.

Chances were shared evenly during the rest of the half with first Phillips mis-kicking from a great position following good work by Hutchinson on 20 minutes.

Romans' skipper Paul Milsom then blazed high and wide after a blistering run and pull back by Dave Toomey, before Simon Browne flicked a Phillips' centre just past the target at the other end.

Terras new boys Phil Andrews and Michael Jackson combined to create an opening five minutes before the break, but this time the hosts were denied by City gloveman Ellis Glassup who did well to hang on to Andrews' goalbound header.

However, probably the best opportunity came seconds before the interval when Bath's lively winger Andy Williams broke into the Weymouth penalty area after showing Tully and Mark Kenway a clean set of heels .

Having done the hard work, his best option would have been to strike for goal, but instead he unselfishly squared for Jason Eaton on the edge of the six-yard who scuffed his effort embarrassingly wide.

City came out flying following the restart and they almost silenced the home supporters after winning a free-kick on the right side of midfield.

James aimed the set-piece towards the far post where Gary Kemp rose to meet it with a powerful header that beat Matthews all ends up, but cannoned back off the woodwork.

Having survived that early second half scare, the Terras then enjoyed their best spell for weeks with Hutchinson and veteran Danny Bailey pulling the strings in midfield.

Man for man they battled as if their very lives depended on it with Glassup tested by Simon Browne's volley and an Andrews' snap shot during that impressive passage of play.

But the visiting keeper was finally rendered helpless when the Terras eventually broke the deadlock on 72 minutes.

Phillips earned his side a free-kick after being tugged back by Matt Coupe some 25 yards from goal and up stepped Hutchinson to curl a stunning left-footer around a six-man wall and into the back of the net.

The Romans barely had time to digest that news before the Terras had sealed maximum points by doubling their advantage five minutes later. Bailey's clipped pass towards the right-hand side of the penalty area was helped on its way by the hardworking Jackson and in raced Tully to hook beyond Glassup and claim his first ever goal in a terra cotta shirt.

Weymouth lived dangerously until the final whistle and things might have been interesting had Ian Harvie not smashed straight at Matthews in the 83rd minute with the ball then rebounding off the substitute's chest and looping just over the bar.

A stunning last gasp tackle by Tully prevented Steve Tweedle as he prepared to pull the trigger from close range, while a glorious diving save by Matthews in injury time denied Trought a consolation effort.

But not for the first time this season it was the Terras who got what they deserved at the final whistle, although on this occasion the boos of recent weeks gave way to a well-earned standing ovation.