Nightingale on song in 13-goal bonanza
by Matt Pitman

12th January 2004

Weymouth moved into the last 32 of the FA Trophy after one of the most incredible matches in their 114-year history.

Supporters at the Dripping Pan were shaking their heads in disbelief as both sides went goal crazy in a tie that had it all.

The 13-goal spectacular, with five coming in the first 20 minutes, was one of those encounters fans will talk about for years.

Defending went out of the window in this amazing tie in which Weymouth never trailed.

Steve Claridge's side gave a devastating attacking display by tearing apart Lewes at will, with wingback Luke Nightingale notching a treble.

But the Terras usually strong defence - the best in the Dr Martens Premier Division - was shambolic and repair work is needed to ensure their title challenge doesn't falter.

Few people would have guessed the incredible things to come when winger John Lamb hobbled off after five minutes with a toe injury.

Claridge got the scoring underway four minutes later, stabbing home from close range after Scott Dennis powerfully headed Paul Buckle's corner goalwards.

The Terras looked in control on a pudding bowl of a pitch but Lewes grabbed an equaliser when Kirk Watts headed home ex-Weymouth striker Marc Whiteman's right wing 14th minute cross.

The frantic pace continued as the Dr Martens Premier Division leaders regained the lead moments later when skipper Buckle started and finished an excellent move.

The midfielder combined with Claridge, Ian Hutchinson and the superb Martin Barlow before winning a 50/50 with Lewes keeper Dominique Jean-Zepherin and slotting home.

The high-flying Ryman Division One outfit wasted no time in hitting back, hauling themselves level within 60 seconds as Junior Kadi drilled past keeper Jason Matthews from 25 yards.

Weymouth went back in front in the ding-dong contest less than a minute later as Nightingale grabbed his first of the afternoon.

The former Portsmouth youngster cut inside from the right flank and fired a shot that squirmed under the despairing Jean-Zepherin and into the net.

Lewes midfielder Danny Davis had a sighter go close as both sides continued to look dangerous.

After such a breathless opening quarter, it was perhaps understandable things became scrappy for the rest of the first half.

Weymouth suffered yet another injury blow just before the interval when defender Dennis was carried off after tearing a hamstring stretching for a loose ball.

Lewes threw men forward after the break and their pressure paid off when they equalised for the third time on the hour. The lanky Davis strode forward from midfield before cracking an unstoppable shot that had Matthews clutching at thin air and the net bulging.

Now on terms, the home side fancied their chances of causing an upset in the final half hour.

But, to their credit, Weymouth refused to buckle and incredibly went ahead yet again within a minute of Davis' strike.

Barlow's neat ball broke Lewes' ineffective offside trap for Nightingale to run through and coolly slot home.

The same pair were at it again on 63 minutes to make it 5-3 as Nightingale finished neatly from close range.

But the Terras did their best to throw away their good work by aiding the home side with more comical defending.

Lewes' lifeline midway through the second period came when Peter Adeniyi rammed home Davis' cut back.

By now bewildered fans were losing count of the score and Weymouth restored their two-goal lead three minutes later. Jean-Zepherin hauled down Hutchinson after losing possession to the midfielder as he dallied over a back-pass.

Claridge failed from the resulting penalty for the second time in seven days, with the keeper saving his well-struck effort, but the striker netted the rebound.

With 19 minutes still to play and the Terras 6-4 up, goals continued to flow in the closing stages.

Lee Phillips got his name on the scoresheet after tapping home from close range, a move which started with Buckle failing to bundle home Nightingale's cross.

The nightmare afternoon at the back for the visitors continued as Davis grabbed a late Lewes' fifth with a neat turn and shot from inside the box.

There was still time for Phillips to notch his second and Weymouth's eighth when he fired low past Jean-Zepherin, who earlier pulled off a brilliant double save from Phillips.

The striker missed a sitter in stoppage time to deny himself a hat-trick, while there was late drama when Rooks substitute Mark Watson saw red for appearing to punch John Waldock in a off the ball incident.

* Incredibly this is not the first time Weymouth have won a match 8-5. The Terras recorded the same scoreline in a Dorset Senior Cup tie against Dorchester Town at the Rec on Thursday, December 3, 1953.