Robbie's dream return
by Matt Pitman

19th January 2004

Weymouth moved five points clear at the top of the Dr Martens Premier Division after leaving it late to see off Hednesford Town.

Loan defender Robbie Pethick was the hero on his debut, breaking the deadlock with just 20 minutes left of this scrappy Wessex Stadium contest.

Lee Phillips' 81st minute volley settled it for the Terras, fielding new signing striker Stewart Yetton, who gained the points despite never really showing championship form.

It proved a great afternoon for Steve Claridge's side as title rivals Crawley Town dropped points to fall behind at the league summit.

After the previous week's incredible 8-5 win at Lewes, it was perhaps understandable Weymouth were a little cagey early on.

Hednesford, without a league win since November, started the brighter and almost took the lead on eight minutes.

Steve Evans whipped in a great ball from the right flank for nippy striker Mark Danks to nod goalwards from close range.

But Terras keeper Jason Matthews brilliantly got down low at his left hand post to claw the ball behind for a corner.

Matthews almost went from hero to villain a minute later when he rushed from his area to head only into the path of giant frontman Steve Anthrobus.

But the veteran former Shrewsbury Town man failed to hit the target with his first time volley.

The impressive Tully went into referee Kevin Haines' notebook within a minute of a caution for Pethick midway through the opening period.

Carl Palmer then headed tamely wide as the visitors sensed a potential victory at Radipole Lane.

Weymouth struggled to create any clear-cut openings before the break and it took them fully 36 minutes to even have a shot on goal.

Yetton, who had an excellent debut, fired wide from distance after doing the hard work with a strong run from deep.

Simon Browne tried his luck in similar circumstances moments later, but the home side's best chance before the break fell to Yetton.

A bit of Phillips trickery down the right saw him beat three Pitmen defenders before sending over a wicked cross.

There was the Argyle teenager who had keeper Ryan Young scrambling to keep out his downward header.

Things continued in a similar vein after the break as leggy Anthrobus was denied by a brilliant reaction save by Matthews.

Lee Barrow then flashed a header just wide for the Pitmen, but Weymouth started to show what they are made of when Mark Robinson replaced the ineffective Luke Nightingale.

The midfielder had been on the pitch a matter of minutes when he was sent away by Tully down the right to fire in a low cross that had to be cleared off his own line by Alex Gibson.

The home continued to press without creating a clear chance and just as a draw seemed likely, they were rewarded for plugging away by finding a way through.

Ian Hutchinson's corner fell to Phillips on the edge of the box whose shot was cleared off the line by Les Hines.

The ball broke for Pethick to bravely dive in to head his side into the lead from close range.

Yetton could have marked his debut with a deserved goal minutes later when he capitalised on a slip by Chris Brindley, but couldn't apply the finish.

With time fast running out, Hednesford pushed men forward for an equaliser that they nearly got with ten minutes left.

Substitute Nathan Lamey found himself with space and time at the edge of the box but could only rattle his shot into the side-netting.

A minute later the Terras sealed it as a looping Paul Buckle cross was headed out by Brindley to the dangerous Phillips who crashed home a right-footed volley from 12 yards.