Battered Terras go yop after Wessex bruising
by Matt Pitman

3rd March 2004

Weymouth survived a bruising encounter to see off nine-man Dover Athletic and return to the top of the Dr Martens Premier Division.

Steve Claridge's Terras opened up a two point lead over title rivals Crawley Town after claiming their second 3-0 Wessex Stadium success in four days.

This latest maximum haul came via a double strike by the player-boss and a late effort by skipper Paul Buckle.

The physical Kent visitors had skipper Andy Arnott and midfielder Danny Chapman sent off after the break and won few friends by the seaside for their tough tackling approach.

And referee Andy Perljewski was another to receive his fair share of stick, this time from both sides.

The Sherborne-based official dished out eight yellow and two red cards during the scrappy contest, many for minor offences.

Yet a host of late tackles went unpunished as things threatened to simmer over with coaching staff in both dugouts complaining about the man in black.

Dover almost went ahead on three minutes when Darren Davies curled a left-footed free-kick inches over the bar of Terras keeper Jason Matthews.

Home striker Lee Phillips nodded wide moments later as Weymouth started brightly.

And it was no surprise when they took the lead on seven minutes from the penalty spot, although Dover were fuming with the award.

Impressive loan defender Tim Clancy, who again looked solid, pumped a long free-kick on to the head of Phillips whose flick found Claridge.

The striker, in the left corner of the box, went down under pressure by Arnott and a spot-kick was awarded.

The decision infuriated the Athletic skipper who was booked for his protests.

Claridge dusted himself down and coolly slotted home from the spot.

That penalty decision sparked a petulant streak in the visitors as Craig Wilkins also went into the book for dissent and then Matt Carruthers was lucky only to get yellow for a woeful challenge on Buckle.

Terras wing back Steve Tully could count himself fortunate only to be booked after retaliating to a late tackle by Lee Spiller.

Claridge wasted the first of a host of good chances midway through the half when he crashed a header wide.

He was also denied on a couple of occasions by Dover keeper Paul Hyde before the break.

Hyde blocked a Phillips effort on 33 minutes before seeing an outrageous Buckle lob from 30 yards sail just over.

If the earlier penalty award was contentious, Weymouth had what looked a cast iron spot-kick turned down when Claridge seemed to be chopped down by Arnott.

Things continued in a similar vein after the interval with the Terras threatening and creating chances.

Dover looked lively and relied mainly on swift counters through tricky midfielder Spiller.

Claridge headed straight at Hyde from close range before Weymouth were dealt a blow when Phillips limped off with a hamstring strain.

The contest continued in a stop-start manner before springing into life with 20 minutes left.

Midfielder Shaun Wilkinson, handed a starting place for the Terras for the injured Martin Barlow, fired a 25-yard rocket against the underside of the bar that fell kindly for Claridge.

The unmarked striker looked odds on to score but somehow his header from six yards hit the turf and bounced agonisingly over the top.

Sixty seconds later Dover were down to ten men when Chapman received a second yellow for kicking the ball away from a home free-kick.

That dismissal pretty much killed any hope they had of getting back into it, although substitute Awuah Jones almost grabbed an equaliser when he sprinted through but could only drive at the legs of Matthews.

Fed up Dover coach Mark Patterson was next to go when referee Mr Perljeski sent him from the bench for dissent.

The killer second arrived with 13 minutes left when Lee Philpott, playing despite a severe virus, fed Claridge with his back to goal.

He twisted to get his shot in that was deflected into the path of Buckle to tuck home.

The visitors were reduced in numbers again moments later when Arnott received a straight red for dissent after a clash with Claridge.

And it was player-boss who grabbed a stoppage time third, slotting past Hyde after some good work by Buckle and substitute Luke Nightingale.