Couldn't score in a Brothel!
by Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

8th September 2002

Geoff Butler kept faith with the side that started at Chippenham in the week, new boys Marc Whiteman and Josh Thomas had places on the bench along with Mark Robinson and Ian Hutchinson.

This was a game that Weymouth needed to win to keep them in the top half of the table, against a Hednesford team that had only lost one game so far this season.

Weymouth opened up as strong as the cross field wind, and Lee Phillips had his shot blocked in the very first minute by big Mark Gayle in the visitors goal, the rebound was struck by Ashford but was cleared for a corner. Five minutes later and Bradford thumped the ball upfield (he said it was a cultured pass) from a Hednesford corner, Lee Phillips picked the ball up on the right flank and tore goalwards, beating his marker and with Chris Giles screaming for the tap in at the far post Phillips decided to have a go himself and screwed his shot wide.

Weymouth’s pressure was constant, on the quarter hour Ryan Ashford found Chris Giles at the far post but he headed inches wide, three minutes later a free kick from 25 yards out was curled by Ashford onto the Hednesford crossbar.

Mr Harris from Torpoint was kept busy with his whistle as stoppages for injuries caused the game to stutter and Weymouth started to loose momentum.

Lee Bradford headed over from an Ashford cross and Lee Phillips wasted a bread and butter chance when put through, he shot at Gayle, the rebound was met by Giles but he shot wide.

On the half hour Weymouth lost the services of Ryan Ashford, he left the field with a head wound as was replaced by Marc Whiteman.

Hednesford made a rare foray into the Weymouth half, Mark Jones found himself in space, and from 10 yards out he ballooned the ball into the training ground.

Hednesford forced two corners in the final ten minutes of the half as they struggled to keep in touch with the game as Weymouth continued to dominate, but they were dealt with but Weymouth’s determined back line.

So at half time the score was Weymouth 0 Hednesford 0

From the restart Weymouth were awarded a free kick on the left of the box, Martin Barlow's kick was met by the head of Whiteman, and Gayle was at full stretch to collect the ball, Gayle's lofty clearance was met by Mark Jones, he wriggled past Simon Browne but his thunderous shot was brilliantly held by Matthews.

Rawlinson fed Phillips out on the left flank, he danced into the box but as in the first half he shot wide.

Much to the crowds delight Mark Robinson came into the fray on 57 minutes, he replaced the limping Giles, this gave Weymouth another dimension as 'Curly' ruled the right flank, and with Tully pushing up on the left Weymouth continued to dominate with the ball being played along the ground.

Right on the hour Robinson sent in a perfect cross after racing to the by line, Tully headed the ball goalwards but somehow Gayle managed to claw the ball out of the air from behind his own body. Phillips again was the culprit of poor finishing after Barlow had put him through a minute later, with only Gayle to beat he shot wide.

Mark Robinson gave the defence a helping hand on 73 minutes as he headed away a dangerous cross from Stuart Airdrie.

To rapturous applause Ian Hutchinson replaced Steve Tully who had picked up a knock on his right shin earlier in the game, but for his efforts was awarded the "Top Terra" award by the match sponsor.

Another Robinson cross on 80 minutes went through everybody and went harmlessly for a throw in.

A Hutchinson deep cross was met by the rising head of Phillips, but the agile Gayle Picked the ball off the Weymouth strikers head.

The dependable Alex Browne was booked on 88 minutes for bringing down Paulo Ware as he bore down on goal with only Matthews to beat, the away support were calling for his dismissal.

In the dying seconds of the game, a hoof upfield by Bradford was chased by Phillips, Gayle lost his footing on the penalty spot as Phillips was almost upon him, he regained his balance as Phillips headed the ball goalwards but Gayle got a hand to it, this pushed it back onto Phillips head and Gayle juggled with the ball before making it safe and denied Weymouth a deserved victory.