Bluebirds' sucker punch shatters Terras title hopes
by Matt Pitman

27th March 2004

A Chippenham smash and grab raid left Weymouth's championship hopes hanging by a thread.

Martin Paul netted a shock 85th minute winner for the Wiltshire strugglers at the Wessex Stadium - settling a game the Terras dominated.

Steve Claridge's side battered the Bluebirds, but simply couldn't find a way through an eight man defence.

And Weymouth frustrations at falling further behind leaders Crawley spilled over as defenders Robbie Pethick and Jamie Impey had to be separated after a second half shoving match.

The defeat leaves the Dorset side with a mountain to climb if they are to secure promotion this season.

The Terras now lie six points behind Crawley, who also have a game in hand against Worcester City tonight (Monday 29 March).

And if Claridge's charges do fail to halt their slide, a poor run of form since the turn of the year be the chief cause.

Chippenham's success means Weymouth have taken a miserly 20 points from a possible 45 in 2004.

Claridge gave a debut to teenage Plymouth defender Gary Sawyer, while keeper Jason Matthews was favoured between the sticks instead of Jimmy Glass.

And the popular gloveman was back in the thick of it inside nine minutes when Chippenham's former Weymouth midfielder Ellis Wilmott sent striker Paul away.

The former Bath City goalgetter opted to take his shot early and his half-volley from a tight angle was blocked by Matthews' legs.

Sloppy passing was costing Weymouth who created little and were frustrated by some dogged Chippenham defending.

Wilmott, who had a short stint with the Terras back in 1999, dragged a right foot drive from distance wide as the Wiltshire side pressed.

Bluebirds left-back Scott Walker sent lively striker James Constable away, but the youngster's curler was saved low down by Matthews.

But once Weymouth got their act together in the last 15 minutes of the opening period it was one-way traffic.

The home side laid siege on keeper Mark Hervin's goal but could not find a way through.

Midfielder Lee Philpott's efforts were twice blocked by Chippenham skipper Colin Towler and his 37th minute corner was met by a towering Jamie Impey header, only for Simon Charity to clear off the line.

Ian Hutchinson drove wide and Pethick also saw a powerful header cleared off the line, this time by Walker, just before the interval.

Claridge replaced the steady Sawyer with midfielder Martin Barlow at the break in a bid to give his side more creativity.

Things continued after the half-time cuppa the way they were - Weymouth pressed but excellent Chippenham defending kept them at bay.

Hervin did well to claw Lee Phillips' excellent turn and shot around the post and the keeper also kept out Barlow's skidding effort.

With home fans becoming increasingly fed up at their side's title hopes seemingly slipping away, Terras players also found themselves boiling over.

Impey found himself on the wrong end of a verbal lashing from Robbie Pethick after giving a corner away.

The pair then had to be separated and talked to by referee Michael Gooding after shoving each other in their own area.

A home goal looked only a matter of time as Paul Buckle had a rasping volley bravely headed over his own bar by Colin Towler and Pethick then had a header chalked off for a foul on Hervin.

Weymouth lost Graeme Power to a leg injury with 20 minutes left and threw bodies forward in a desperate bid to find the net.

But the warnings signs for them were there when a swift Chippenham counter ended with Matthews having to pull off a point-blank block from the unmarked Griffin.

The hosts best chance to go ahead came seven minutes from time when a Philpott shot broke for Barlow who sent an absolute rocket against the bar from 15 yards out.

The Bluebirds seemed content enough to settle for a point but they were gifted all three with five minutes.

A sloppy pass by substitute Luke Nightingale inside the visitors' box sent the pacey Walker away down the left.

He ran almost 50 yards unopposed before releasing Griffin whose shot was saved by Matthews only to fall kindly for Paul to stroke home into an empty net.