Dorset Double Take For Soaring Hawks
by Matt Pitman

Wednesday 22nd October

Sixteen years ago yesterday, a bright-eyed 21-year-old called Steve Claridge ran out to do battle for Weymouth against a star-studded Manchester United side at the Wessex Stadium.

That night, marking the official opening of the ground, the Terras beat their illustrious hosts 1-0 in front of a packed house.

While the occasion still ranks as one of Claridge's footballing highlights, the same can't be said for last night's events at the same venue.

A 1-0 defeat to Havant and Waterlooville saw Weymouth miss a glorious chance to return to the top of the Dr Martens Premier Division and they only had themselves to blame.

After falling behind to Dean Blake's superb early strike, Claridge's charges dominated possession.

But goals win matches and the hosts struggled to find a way through a stubborn visiting rearguard.

Following recent bad blood between the two sides, this clash was expected to be a thunderous contest.

The reality was different though with proceedings never really threatening to erupt in front of a quiet Wessex Stadium crowd of 803, considerably down on previous home games this season

Both sides played some decent football on a slick playing surface following numerous downpours throughout the day.

And after the lively opening exchanges, Havant, who beat Dorchester at the Avenue Stadium on Saturday, hit the front as early as the sixth minute.

The move leading to the goal began when Terras midfielder Martin Barlow lost possession deep inside the Hawks' half.

The visitors immediately launched a lightning raid down the right with James Ford given acres of space to gallop into.

The former Magpies loan man found the unmarked Blake who cut in from the left flank to curl delightfully round keeper Jason Matthews.

Predictably, it was Claridge who was at the centre of all Weymouth's best moves.

The player boss cracked a useful effort just over from 20 yards as the Terras, who gave a start to out of favour midfielder Mark Robinson, looked to hit back.

Hawks keeper Gareth Howells was equal to Claridge's quick-thinking after 15 minutes when he fired a free-kick goalwards from the edge of the box.

It took a fantastic last-ditch tackle by the impressive Alec Masson to deny Luke Nightingale just as the striker was about to fire goalwards from close range.

The Hampshire also created chances with Matthews keeping out a David Town effort, while Weymouth had a linesman's flag to thank for ruling out Luke Byles' glancing header just before the break.

The home side enjoyed their best spell after the interval when it seemed all but a matter of time before they were back on terms.

Claridge was unlucky to see a hooked effort deflect over off defender Aaron Skelton and Havant keeper Gareth Howells blocked Lee Russell's volley in a crowded area.

Havant created little in the second period and seemed happy to sit deep and play on the break.

That tactic nearly paid off when the excellent James Taylor, always a menace to Weymouth, was denied by a good piece of defending by Simon Browne.

Midfielder Ian Hutchinson wasted perhaps the host's best chance when his close range header from a Lee Philpott centre somehow flashed wide.

The spark went out of the Terras creative play late on and despite changes, they never really looked like finding a way past hamstring victim Howells or his late replacement David Leaver.

Instead it was the Hawks who seemed most likely to net, with Matthews pulling off a great save to keep out Chukki Eribenne.

The former Bournemouth man than combined well with Blake for the latter to somehow screw a shot wide when it seemed easier to score.

The final whistle saw Claridge trudge off to chew over another home defeat.

As he did so, that memorable night on October 21, 1987 must have seemed a distant memory.