Claridge miss blows title race wide open
by Matt Pitman

5th January 2004

Crawley Town blew the Dr Martens Premier Division title race wide open by inflicting Weymouth's third defeat of the season at the Wessex Stadium.

The ten-man Sussex outfit cut the Terras lead to just three points by surviving a second half onslaught after keeper Andy Little was sent off for a 60th minute professional foul on Lee Phillips.

Defender Ian Payne donned the gloves and dramatically saved Steve Claridge's resulting spot-kick to settle this big top of the table clash.

Loan Wycombe striker Gavin Holligan's first half effort proved decisive as Weymouth struggled to find a way through.

Claridge's troops desperately missed the midfield invention of Lee Philpott and lacked the killer final ball when they had an extra man.

Skipper Paul Buckle made a surprise return to the Weymouth midfield after recovering from a calf injury.

There was no place for axed defender Lee Molyneaux or midfielder Mark Robinson, who both started at Dorchester.

The league leaders started in determined fashion and came mighty close to going in front inside two minutes.

Alert midfielder Ian Hutchinson found Steve Claridge with a quickly taken free-kick, but the stretching striker's stab was gathered by Little.

The tussle was a cagey affair for most of the first half as both sides played some attractive football without creating a great deal.

Crawley were first to settle down and Francis Vines' organised troops took the initiative in the gloom at Radipole Lane.

A quick free-kick sent striker Charlie McDonald away, exploiting a defensive hole left by the upfield Steve Tully.

The dangerous goalgetter took a couple of strides but Terras keeper Jason Matthews was equal to his chip.

At the other end, Impey crashed a close range header at Little, but other than that it was mostly the visitors who threatened.

And they hit the front on 35 minutes when Paul Armstrong sent Justin Gregory, sporting a bandage after taking a knock to the head earlier, away down the left.

He whipped in an inch-perfect cross to the far post for Holligan to nod home.

Things got even worse for the hosts when the returning Jamie Impey fell awkwardly and injured his leg and shoulder after a surging run into the Crawley box.

The clash exploded into life after the break when visiting midfielder Mo Harkin, booked just a minute earlier, was lucky not to see red for a late challenge on Claridge.

Weymouth were given a golden opportunity to haul themselves level on 59 minutes when Phillips was put in by Martin Barlow.

But as the striker rounded Little, the keeper caught his trailing leg and referee Andrew Graves pointed to the spot.

A red card inevitably followed and with defender Payne taking over in goal, you would have put your house on Claridge netting the penalty.

But Payne, who has been emergency keeper before for Crawley, dived to his right to dramatically turn away the striker's effort.

Claridge had a decent shout for another penalty turned down moments later as the Terras turned the screw in search of an equaliser.

But their quest left room for the Red Devils to exploit and it would have been curtains had Holligan made the most of McDonald's square ball.

Weymouth were crying out for some decent service from the wings, but for all their possession they failed to really test the jittery Payne.

Substitute Scott Dennis had a cross-cum-shot turned over, Simon Browne blazed just wide and Buckle also went close, but the visitors held on to secure the big victory.