Reds Feel The Force As Terras Turn The Screw
by Paul Baker

10th February 2003

Weymouth re-ignited their Dr Martens Premier Division survival bid with a superb win over Crawley Town at the Wessex Stadium.

The Terras stunned the high-flying Sussex visitors to throw themselves a lifeline in the battle to beat the drop.

Goals in each half by Martyn Sullivan and the outstanding Lee Phillips gave Geoff Butler's side only their third home success of the season.

It was a weakened Weymouth line- up that saw duty against a disappointing Reds' outfit who had begun the day 11 places above their hosts in eighth spot.

Already rocked by suspensions to Steve Tully and Toby Redwood, Weymouth were also without Matthew Hale with a knee ligament injury.

In came a fit again Mark Robinson for his first start since mid-December while 18-year-old Leon Green got the nod ahead of Marc Whiteman up front.

The new-look Terras got off to a shaky start and were fortunate not to have been punished after Simon Browne - also starting his first game since before Christmas - gave the ball away close to his own penalty area on four minutes. In raced Kevin Hemsley seeking to take advantage but his chipped effort sailed way over the top.

A soft header by Sullivan into the arms of Town goalkeeper Andy Little was as close as the Terras came during an opening half hour that Crawley dominated in terms of goal scoring opportunities.

Four times the home gloveman Jason Matthews was forced to pull off good saves to deny Hemsley, Stewart Holmes, Mo Harkin and Ernie Cooksey, while Warren Bagnall should have done better than screw inches wide from close range on 20 minutes.

The visitors would probably have tested Matthews further had it not been for some brilliant work by Weymouth skipper Alex Browne who was like a brick wall at the heart of the defence. Time and again he was there to clear up the mess including one stunning challenge on Nic McDonnell as the Reds' striker was about to pull the trigger just outside the six-yard box.

The pace of Green and Phillips occasionally threatened at the other end, but the hosts had to wait until the 40th minute before eventually taking the lead.

Danny Bailey chipped a free-kick into the danger zone from the half-way line which Little did well to come off his line and punch clear under extreme pressure from Phillips. But the keeper could only stand and watch as the ball spun out to Sullivan who smacked it first time into the unguarded net from fully 30 yards.

It was a great finish by the former Dorchester winger who was back terrorising the Crawley defence four minutes later. His run and cross from the left was met by an unmarked Phillips in the centre, but his headed goal was disallowed after the linesman flagged for offside.

Half-Time: Weymouth 1, Crawley Town 0

Weymouth found themselves under the cosh early in the second period but again Crawley could find no way past a defiant Alex Browne and it was another one of his well-timed tackles that set up Phillips' goal of the game on 57 minutes.

Ian Hutchinson collected the loose ball after Cooksey had been robbed by the Terras captain and immediately sprayed it wide left for Phillips to run on to just inside Crawley's half. The former Plymouth Argyle man then showed a blistering turn of speed to leave hapless pair Holmes and Ian Payne trailing in his wake. Having made his way to the edge of the penalty box, his best option looked to be a square pass to either Hutchinson or Whiteman who had both sprinted into great positions alongside him. However, any doubts about Phillips' confidence were answered in spectacular style as he cut inside and unleashed a stinging shot that rocketed past Little and into the bottom left hand corner.

Town were left reeling after that second blow but they raised their fans' hopes with a triple effort on the hour. First McDonnell's shot was turned away by a diving Matthews with Danny Hockton's follow up effort booted off the line by John Waldock. And as the ball flew skywards up rose Hemsley, but his header crept wide of the post.

The Sussex side rarely troubled the Terras after that, although it was a different story at the other end of the park where Phillips could have easily completed a hat-trick.

He scorched a shot over the top following Bailey's measured ball through the middle and was then just a fraction away from connecting with Sullivan's centre from the by-line.

But in the end two goals were enough for the Terras against a side who arrived on the south coast with one of the meanest defences in the division, but who left with their tails firmly between their legs.