It's Not Quite Over
by Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

20th April 2003

On a dust bowl of a pitch with a ice cold swirling wind the Terras took the field with a near full strength side knowing that a win will totally ensure Dr. Martens premiership football next season.

Dover had their injury problems and had come for the draw, their spoiling tactics and negative play meant that Weymouth had to chase the game and do their best to break down a resilient back line, whilst trying to entertain.

Dover had the first half chance of the game. With Weymouth committing bodies forward a breakaway by Jamie Day bought Matthews off his line, shooting from 15 yards the Terras guardian easily gathered.

Weymouth certainly held sway enjoying bags of possession but the final ball in was disappointing, on the quarter hour sun bed bronzed Paul Hyde in the Dover goal miss judged a Redwood cross, the ball hit a divot and bounced up and over the bleach haired glove man only to drop just over the bar.

The tenacious Mark Robinson had the bit between his teeth chasing every ball and closing down when necessary, his two chances either side of 20 minutes both flew wide. Tully made one of his trademark runs on the left flank, his cross to the feet of Jackson on the penalty spot was poorly struck and Hyde scooped the ball up.

Jackson had another poke at goal on the half hour his provider this time was Phillips, although well hit the ball screamed over the bar. Mark Robinson picked up a pass from Jackson with 35 minutes gone, his shot warmed the hands of Hyde and from a corner three minutes later Jackson met Hutchinson’s corner on the volley, as with his previous effort the ball flashed wide of the upright.

This was fairly dire stuff as the Terras in all fairness took the game to the visitors but as Geoff said afterwards "it takes two teams to make a match of it" and Dover certainly had no intensions in that department.

So at half time the score was: Weymouth 0 Dover Athletic 0

With the Terras kicking into the face of the strong wind Simon Browne stepped forward to take a free kick just in front of the dugout, his pin point ball was targeted for the head of Jackson on the edge of the box, but instead found the hand of Andy Arnott; With half the ground screaming "PENALTY" Mr Hawken who had been whistle happy up to that point suddenly ran out of puff.

Dover did stir themselves to break into the Terras half with nearly an hour gone; Michael Smisson wasted a good opportunity with his head after Jamie Day had done the hard work down the left flank.

Weymouth continued to press but their momentum had been broken and aimless balls lumped forward took up the centre portion of the second half. Steve Tully tried to rally the side with a couple of good runs and a headed effort from distance which although on target lacked power.


High point of the afternoon had nothing to do with football and all to do with tantrums. Phillips battled with Dean Readings down the right flank and having beaten his man for power and pace, pushed the ball in toward goal only to be bundled to the floor in a mass of elbows and studs. Phillips jumped to his feet and confronted the Dover No.5; both men swapped verbal abuse forehead to forehead. Readings (to all those observing) was seen to 0pull his head back and lunged at the Cornishman, within seconds you couldn’t move for highlighted hair as Dover’s pretty boys threw their handbags about. Mr Hawken then spent four minutes talking to his officials and finally booked Phillips and Readings.

With the blood now nicely warmed, the Terras upped their game and laid siege for the final 10 minutes but to no avail and with Mr Hawken blowing up right on the 45 minutes The Terras had to settle for a point.