Woeful Weymouth hit by Eastleigh blitz
by Matt Pitman

12th February 2004

Eastleigh made it a Dorset double by hammering woeful Weymouth in this Dr Martens Cup quarter- final last night.

The ambitious Southampton outfit ripped Steve Claridge's league leaders apart during a frantic second half at Stoneham Lane.

The Terras, who suffered their third successive defeat, had gone into the break 2-1 up.

But a shocking defensive display after the interval saw Eastleigh hammer four without replay to chalk up another giant killing after beating Dorchester Town last week.

Weymouth may be current Dr Martens Premier Division leaders but they looked more relegation candidates than championship chasers last night.

This latest defeat has left Terras fans asking questions after their side had looked almost invincible earlier this season.

The lively hosts, who have now won 14 of the last 15, knocked five past helpless keeper Jason Matthews but the truth is it could easily have been even more.

A galaxy of football stars including Southampton boss Gordon Strachan and Saints legend Matt Le Tissier were among the crowd.

And they must have been shaking their head in disbelief watching Claridge's rearguard as former Terra David Hughes and ex-Southampton favourite Nicky Banger had a field day.

Few would have predicted what was on the cards when Weymouth took the lead within two minutes.

Claridge fed strike partner Lee Phillips down the right whose shot fell for loan winger Lewis Cook to slam home from close range.

The visitors were dealt a blow moments later when defender Steve Tully limped off with a hamstring injury.

Claridge went close to extending the lead before Banger had the first of his many efforts for the hosts moments later.

Eastleigh got back on terms 15 minutes when defender John Waldock failed to cut out a long punt by keeper Wayne Shaw, allowing Banger to nip in.

The lively striker was hauled down by Matthews and he got up, brushed himself down and converted the resulting penalty.

With both sides playing some nice football, the chances continued to flow at either end.

Claridge was denied on a couple of occasions by the larger than life Shaw and midfielder Lee Philpott, who also suffered a hamstring injury, dragged a shot just wide.

Winger Tyrone Bowers went mighty close for the home side but it was Weymouth who regained the lead on the half hour.

Mark Robinson, skipper for the night, was brought down in the box by Christer Warren after a surging run and Claridge sent Shaw the wrong way from the spot.

But it was a different story after the break as Eastleigh came out all guns blazing.

They were level again just two minutes after the restart when skipper Rob Marshall crashed his header from Martin Beck's inswinging corner past Matthews.

About the only thing Weymouth had to offer after that was a neat move and cross from Claridge that saw Shaw save well from Hutchinson's diving header.

A minute after that chance the Terras gifted the home side the lead when a poor clearance by Robbie Pethick gave possession to the excellent Beck.

He found Hughes who kept his cool to slot home from close range.

Matthews saved well from first Beck and then Hughes to keep the score down.

By now Eastleigh sensed victory and were determined to rub salt in Weymouth's wounds.

A mistake by the poor Luke Nightingale almost gifted Beck an easy goal on 73 minutes but the striker couldn't make the most of the opening.

But the next disaster to occur in the Terras defence four minutes was punished.

Pethick played a free-kick too quickly, passing straight to the unmarked Banger who had the easy job of lobbing into an empty net past the out of position Matthews.

And things got even worse in stoppage time when another huge clearance by Shaw was flicked on by Bowers for midfielder Neil Davis to deftly lob home from the edge of the box.