Electric Phillips adds spark for eager Terras
by David Swain

16th July 2003

A trimmer Lee Phillips looks set to terrorise Dr Martens League defenders again this season after proving a handful for Barnet's Conference men in the Terras first friendly last night.

The former Plymouth Argyle man racked up nearly all of the Terras goal attempts in a contest fought out predominantly in midfield and fittingly won the penalty which earned his side the draw and an "unbelieveable" rating from boss Steve Claridge.

Bees' goalkeeper Ricky Millard, prone to punching nearly everything, decided for once to catch a high bouncing ball inside the area in the 43rd minute and only succeeded in wrapping his arms around Phillip's neck.

As the ball bounced loose and Phillips crashed to the ground, referee Janie Frampton at first waved aside Weymouth's appeals.

But she changed her mind after consulting assistant Dave Moore and Steve Tully, earlier skinned by Barnet's goal provider Simon King, made amends with a perfect spot kick high into the roof of the net.

King left Tully flat-footed with a jink back inside from the left flank after 23 minutes and his driven cross was powered past Jason Matthews' groping right hand from nine yards by the head of Mark Williams.
 
Phillips, supported well by all-action newcomer Scott Partridge with Lee Philpott and Martin Barlow probing busily from midfield, had Millard diving to his left to push away his shot after 27 minutes and then saw Partridge fail by a whisker to make far post contact with a cross-shot that fizzed through the goalmouth.

A tremendous solo run through the centre by Phillips early in the second half saw replacement goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt, one of ten interval changes made by Bees boss Martin Allen, block his low drive with his legs.

The Terras earlier fluency suffered as Claridge rang the changes to give all 19 of his squad a taste of the action. But they always had the upper hand over the lesser experienced Barnet line-up and with Phillips hunting the winner former England Under 21 Chris Plummer just pipped him in the goalmouth to head Simon Browne's centre over his own bar.