Harrowing day for Partridge
by Steve Dadd

3rd August 2003

On a gorgeous sunny summer’s afternoon, 321 persons witnessed Terra’s player manager Steve Claridge make his home debut against Ryman league visitors Harrow Borough.

Fielding an almost full strength side, only Lee Phillips and Lee Russell were missing through injury, which gave Martyn Sullivan the chance to impress the "gaffer".

Weymouth were in complete control of the first half which saw Steve Tully waste the first of his teams numerous opportunities. A defence splitting ball from Philpott allowed the blond bombshell to scoot in on goal, skipping past the keeper he calmly slotted the ball high and wide.

This set the tone as chance after chance were spurned throughout the game, although Steve Claridge opened his account with a far post header following some trickery on the right flank by Martyn Sullivan. His subsequent pin point cross gave Claridge the easy job of directing the ball into the back of the net.

Partridge got onto the score sheet halfway through the first half with a deflected shot that deceived the luckless Hock in the visitors goal.

Tully made the most of a great ball by Barlow, racing goalwards he was met by the onrushing keeper who went to ground well outside of his area and smothered the ball bringing Tully down in the process. Portland referee Royston Mitchell just smiled and awarded a free kick to the Terras which was wasted.

The second half lacked the bite of the first, but still the Terras created and wasted enough chances to have made the South African cricket teams score look less impressive.

Harrow scored twice in 15minutes to level the score and try as they might the hosts could not find the winner.