Weymouth wobble at Welling
by Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

11th September 2002

Mark Robinson made a welcome return to the starting line up after his impressive display against Hednesford last Saturday.

Weymouth kicked down the noticeable slope at Park View Road and within thirty seconds they rocked Welling with a justifiable penalty appeal, a cross from Ryan Ashford found Mark Robinson who received a hefty two handed push in the back but the referee Mr. Meilack much to the amazement of every one in the ground waved away the penalty appeals, but the Terras took the lead after five minutes when Lee Phillips worked down the right flank to the by line, he cut the ball back to Mark Robinson who was screaming for the ball and from 10 yards blasted his shot into the roof of the net.
 
From the restart a Welling cross was missed by Jason Matthews, but  Simon Browne was on hand to clear the loose ball.

Weymouth were playing with a lot of confidence after their opening goal with Mark Robinson covering every blade of grass and bossing the midfield and with the ever dependable Alex Browne keeping things tight at the back Welling could find no way through with their rather direct style of play.

Weymouth forced three corners on the quarter hour and then gave away a free kick just outside the area Ryan Ashford’s floated kick found the head of Bradford his goal bound effort was stopped on the line and as Giles piled in it was hacked clear.

As Weymouth kept up the pressure Ashford and Rawlinson had shots held by the keeper; and it wasn't until the half hour that Welling had their first shot on goal when Frenchman Raphael Nade's 12-yard shot had Jason Matthew going full length to save.

Although Weymouth bossed the game it was apparent that Welling's svelte and lightning quick strike force would always be a threat. 

On 39 minutes Alex Browne got up to a cross at the far post and his header was not far away from making it 2-0 to the Terras, but right on half time Weymouth received a double blow, against the run of play, a Rivere cross was miss punched by Matthews and rebounded off Dave Powell into the net.

Two minutes into injury time an Anthony Rievie cross was not picked up by the Terras defence and Nade slotted the ball into the net.

So at half time the score was Welling United 2 Weymouth 1

The Terras started strongly in the opening stages of the second half when a Chris Giles cross went across the face of the goal and Phillips just failed to make contact.

Terras skipper Alex Browne made two great interceptions in the box as Nade looked certain to take advantage of both chances.

Weymouth brought on Mark Whiteman for Steve Tulley after 66 minutes, Whiteman making it a three-man attack for the Terras.

On 67 minutes Nade showed his electrifying pace, but Matthews came off his line well to save at the strikers feet.

Welling was turning on the heat in the second period, with the nimble front-runners causing the Terras rearguard a lot of problems.

On 74 minutes Ryan Ashford’s free kick found Giles at the far post but the striker headed straight in keeper Glen Knights hands.

Hutchinson replaced the hard working Rawlinson on 79 minutes.

82 minutes Welling got their third goal, a cross from Stephen Sodje went to the far post and Paul Lorraine, rose above the Terras defence to plant his header into the far corner of the net.

Two minutes later it should have been four to the home side when Sodje burst of pace down the right flank, his cross dissected the Weymouth defence leaving Nade a clear run at Matthew but he pulled his shot wide.

Whiteman showed some good skills in beating two Welling defenders and slid the ball to Phillips; who, with his back to goal flicked and turned, in the process beating two players, but from the penalty spot he blasted well over.

After 88 minutes Welling got their fourth goal, when Sodje's shot was deflected off Mark Robinson's outstretched leg and the ball curled over the luckless Jason Matthew and dropped into the empty goal.

A minute later Weymouth scored the goal of the night when Chris Giles picked up a loose clearance and hammered his shot into the roof of the net.