Hutch special sends Terras on their way
By Matt Pitman

20th August 2003

The new era at the Wessex Stadium got off to the best possible start last night with Weymouth scoring a 2-1 victory over Newport County.

A crowd of 1,453, over double last season's average attendance, saw Steve Claridge's outfit secure all three Dr Martens Premier Division points despite being under the cosh for long periods.

A fantastic free-kick by Ian Hutchinson and a trademark Lee Phillips finish proved decisive in the end although the Terras boss admitted his side were nowhere near their best.

Claridge was forced to change his line up from the impressive showing in the stalemate at Hednesford on Saturday with midfielder Lee Philpott making way for Scott Partridge after reporting unfit with a thigh strain.

There's definitely a buzz around the club these days and the early stages were a clear measure of how times have changed as the Welsh side seemed content to sit back and try to hit the Dorset club on the counter.

Weymouth patiently stroked the ball around, with excellent wing back Steve Tully's probing runs down the right looking their most likely route.

But for all the hosts neat approach play, Newport keeper Pat Mountain hardly had to get his knees dirty in the opening quarter of an hour.

Only Partridge's drilled cross aimed towards the lurking Claridge at the far post, intercepted by Terry Evans, caused anxious moments in the visitor's rearguard.

It always seemed a moment of magic would be needed to break the deadlock and it was the superb Hutchinson who conjured up the trick on 24 minutes after Claridge won a free-kick 25 yards out near the right hand corner of the box.

Up strode the 30-year-old to confidently flight the ball over the wall and beat Mountain at his near post.

Despite all the upheaval and changes at the Wessex Stadium over the summer months, some things still remain.

Within a minute of that fantastic strike, the Terras had pressed the self-destruct button to allow the Welshmen to get back on terms.

County's restart found left back Gary Lloyd and his long ball pumped forward was latched on to by ex-Aston Villa striker Neil Davis, who squeezed between John Waldock and Mark Kenway to lob Matthews from the edge of the box.

That equaliser served to stir Peter Nicholas' side into life and it was they who took a stranglehold on proceedings for the rest of the opening period.

Weymouth keeper Jason Matthews pulled off an instinctive save from Gary Shepherd's point blank range header, with the Terras player of the year hurting his back in the process.

Then Lloyd's fizzing left flank cross evaded a host of onrushing County attackers and it was clear Claridge's half-time team talk couldn't come soon enough.

The tactical shake up saw Weymouth thrust youngster John Lamb on for the out-of-sorts Partridge and switch to three at the back.

Lamb's tricky runs down the left gave the Terras more balance although clear cut openings remained at a premium.

Shepherd seized upon a slip by Lee Russell just after the hour but his volley from distance failed to trouble Matthews and he was made to pay for that miss when the hosts had hit the front again 60 seconds later.

A patient build up ended with Kenway's chip forward finding Phillips who, with plenty of work still to do, chested down and fired home from close range after holding off a couple of challenges.

Waldock crashed a header just wide four minutes later before Newport threw caution to the wind and pushed men forward in a search of a late equaliser.

That caused a nervy last quarter for Weymouth but the defence marshalled by Waldock stood firm despite some severe pressure.

The result should have been secured just before time though when Claridge's clip sent Phillips clear but the 22-year-old saw the keeper block his tame effort.