DRAW HANDS TITLE TO CRAWLEY
by Matt Pitman

Monday 15th March

Weymouth's Dr Martens Premier Division title hopes were finally ended by Tiverton Town at the Wessex Stadium yesterday.

A 1-1 draw against the Devon visitors coupled with a 3-0 victory for Crawley Town at Welling, saw the Sussex side crowned champions with four games left to play.

Steve Claridge's former league leaders had looked odds on for glory in December having opened up a six point lead at the top of the table.

But a miserable second half to the campaign has cost them dearly and they now face a battle to secure the runners-up spot.

After the fiasco at Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday, the Terras at least produced a better display on their return to home soil and that despite fielding a trio of walking wounded.

Claridge played with a cracked rib picked up at West Leigh Park, defender Jamie Impey was nursing a hernia injury and Simon Browne was clearly still suffering from a bout of illness.

The Terras made two changes from the side that were hammered 48 hours earlier.

Defender Scott Dennis and midfielder Luke Nightingale made way for Mark Robinson and Shaun Wilkinson.

And the two new faces combined well on five minutes for the first effort on goal, Wilkinson's header finding Robinson whose shot was gathered low by Tivvy keeper Stuart Fraser.

But less than 60 seconds later the visitors went ahead after more sloppy Weymouth defending.

Lee Philpott gave the ball away to the grateful Steve Winter deep in his own half.

He found former Magpie Danny O'Hagan who slipped in lively Jamie Mudge to coolly beat Jason Matthews.

But to their credit the hosts hit back after that early setback as Wilkinson curled a free-kick at Fraser and Tully shot tamely at the gloveman from the edge of the box.

Striker Lee Phillips, who turned down a move to Tiverton last summer, almost got the home side back on terms when he headed round the exposed Fraser on the edge of the box.

But the former Plymouth Argyle man could not convert from a tight angle as huge defender Nathan Rudge - another to turn a move down to Radipole Lane earlier this season - cleared off the line.

Impey was next to try his luck as he sent a volley thundering into advertising boards behind the visiting goal.

But Weymouth deservedly got themselves level on 27 minutes when Phillips dummied a Browne cross only for a posse of Tivvy defenders to half clear to Wilkinson.

The midfielder, who has a had a torrid time since his £5,000 move from Havant in February, sent a 25-yard first-time cracker arrowing into the top corner.

Claridge was taking a battering from marker Paul Milsom who was lucky only to see yellow after appearing to stamp on the striker moments later.

Team-mates Rudge and Steve Winter both followed Milsom into the book just after, while home defender Robbie Pethick was also cautioned as things heated up.

But despite looking dangerous while on the attack, Weymouth still looked shaky at the other end and could have fallen behind again moments before the interval.

Mudge floated a neat ball over the top and Weymouth's backline stood like statues for an offside flag that never came.

Nancekivell had the simple job of heading in from close range but Matthews did well to get up and deal with the bouncing ball.

The hosts pressed after the break with Phillips slicing wide from just outside the box and the striker almost got a lucky break when Fraser dallied in possession on the byline moments later.

But the keeper was able to make a good recovery just as it looked like Phillips would be gifted an easy chance.

The contest became stretched after that as Tiverton threatened on the counter.

The visitors could have gone in front when O'Hagan muscled his way past marker Browne but screwed his shot wide.

Full-back Winter also had a couple of half-chances to nick it for Rogers' side.

It took a great defensive header by Milsom to deny the lurking Claridge and Barlow saw a dipping volley flash just wide.

With the clock ticking, Weymouth's best chance to keep alive their championship hopes fell to the player-boss.

Robinson did well down the right to work some space before sending over a hanging cross.

There was Claridge six yards out but his header was saved at point-blank range by Fraser who diverted the ball back into the path of the veteran striker with the goal at his mercy.

But a combination of Rob Cousins and Rudge on the line somehow kept out Claridge and by doing so killed off any lingering hopes the Terras had of championship glory.
 

Man Of The Match: Shaun Wilkinson

Referee: A. Perlejewske