Weymouth secure second spot
by Matt Pitman

3rd May 2004

Skipper Paul Buckle's winner ensured Weymouth end the season in runners-up spot in the Dr Martens Premier Division.

The Terras captain's 66th minute header gave Steve Claridge's men their highest league finish for more than 20 years.

The home side could have had a hatful as the table's basement boys rode their luck for long periods, clearing four shots off the line.

The win was Weymouth's first on home soil since March 16 and brought the curtain down on a successful season at the Wessex Stadium.

Another 1,000-plus crowd witnessed the season closer and hailed their heroes with a standing ovation at the final whistle.

Striker Lee Phillips sat out after failing a late fitness test on his injured hamstring.

Sweeper Steve Tully was named Weymouth's Player of the Year before the contest and the Terras had the stopper to thank for preventing them falling behind on eight minutes.

Grantham striker Scott Huckerby found Tony Hemmings in space after a swift counter.

Just as it looked like Hemmings was about to score, there was Tully to nick the ball off his toes with a superb last-ditch tackle.

The visitors threatened further as Peter Sutton was squeezed out by Simon Browne just inside the box.

Weymouth hit back as the striding Robbie Pethick sent a low drive fizzing wide.

Winger John Lamb was next to try his luck when his effort had debutant keeper Shaun Reddington scrambling.

The hosts had plenty of possession but were often frustrated by the Gingerbreads" offside trap.

Weymouth enjoyed a purple patch mid¬way through the opening half as a superb through ball out of defence sent striker Luke Nightingale away.

His shot was blocked by Reddington with the loose ball falling invitingly for Claridge.

But the striker's attempt to tuck away was kept out by Matt McCall on the line.

Nightingale fired a first time volley just wide and then Lamb sent a stinging shot into the side netting.

A nasty clash of heads between Simon Browne and Sutton, just back from a stint in Iraq with the Army, caused a lengthy stoppage towards the end of the half.

When the action resumed Claridge was again denied by a goalline clearance in stoppage time.

Reddington made a hash of a high ball on the edge of the box under pressure by Nightingale.

Claridge picked up possession 20 yards out, cushioned a lob goalwards but this time it was Jamie March who kept the ball out under his own bar.

Referee Kevin Milford suffered a knock before the interval, pulling a hamstring, and withdrew at halftime after failing to respond to treatment.

That caused a ten minute delay to the start of the second period with Terras office manager Pete Saxby running the line after the break.

Dominic Hallows flashed a shot just wide of Matthews' goal but after that it was virtually all Weymouth.

Grantham's goal lived a charm life as some desperate defending from McCaul kept out the lurking Claridge.

Moments later Weymouth came mighty close again when Reddington palmed Pethick's drilled cross to Nightingale.

He whacked goalwards but determined Dakin again saved Grantham on the line.

When Reddington brushed Claridge's shot on to the bar and behind midway through the half, it seemed like it would not be Weymouth's day.

But the hosts pressure paid off from the resulting corner when Philpott's pinpoint delivery found the stooping Paul Buckle to head home from close range.

It was almost two when Philpott and Claridge worked some space on 77 minutes for Wilkinson to again drive just wide from distance.

Grantham nearly stole a point with time running out when Hemmings swung over a dangerous free-kick from the right touchline.

Dakin stole in front of Matthews but his header flashed inches past the far post.

Weymouth wasted a golden opportunity to seal it in stoppage time when Robinson found Nightingale with a peach of a pass.

The former Portsmouth striker looked odds on to tuck it away but instead tried to find Claridge, squandering possession in the process.