Weymouth Frustrated By Determined Seagulls
by Matt Pitman

Monday 15 December 2003

Dogged Weston-super-Mare defending frustrated league leaders Weymouth in this Wessex Stadium stalemate.

The Dr Martens Premier Division table-toppers failed to find a way through against the Somerset side despite dominating possession.

The draw saw Steve Claridge's side extend their lead over second place Hinckley to six points after bad weather hit the division programme.

But Weymouth could have taken an even bigger lead into the festive season had they breached a packed Seagulls' defence and finished off their neat approach play.

Time after time the home side found a wall of Weston defenders in between them and the goal but they failed to find that killer final ball.

Frank Gregan's outfit made up for their lack of finesse with sheer determination and organised defending to claim what was probably a deserved point in the end.

Weymouth were unchanged from the side that saw off Chelmsford in the league the previous week after skipper Paul Buckle passed a late fitness test.

The pattern to the contest on a pitch in tip-top condition despite continual downpours was set early on as the Terras pressed but were constantly frustrated by Weston's well-worked offside trap.

Visiting keeper Stuart Jones hardly had to get his gloves dirty in the opening period.

The excellent Martin Barlow sent Luke Nightingale down the right early on whose cross was volleyed over by Claridge.

The veteran striker's high ball was just too high for the leaping Lee Phillips as the Terras continued to apply pressure.

Phillips was stopped in his tracks after a scintillating 80-yard run by fussy referee Jon Wheeler for a foul on Lee Jarman as he bore down on goal.

For their part, Weston showed little ambition as Frank Gregan's side packed their defence in a bid to win a point.

The one way traffic continued as Barlow exchanged passes with Buckle to find Nightingale wide right. The former Portsmouth had time and space but failed to make the most of the opening by drilling his cross into the side netting.

It seemed only a matter of time before Weymouth took the lead as Claridge nodded wide Lee Philpott's corner before the break and Nightingale wasted a good opening after doing the hard work on the right wing.

Weston showed more ambition after the interval and Terras keeper Jason Matthews was called into action to push over Mark McGregor's powerful drive.

The visitors had a mighty let off on 55 minutes when Phillips' strong run and byline cross was wildly sliced just inches over his own bar by Anthony Davies.

Jones then did well to whip the ball off the toes of Phillips and Claridge as the Weymouth strike duo broke on separate occasions.

The hosts began throwing extra men forward in a bid to break the deadlock but they almost paid the price when Weston hit them on the counter in the closing stages.

Former West Ham star Stuart Slater started a move that ended with substitute Paul Hunt blazing a low drive that Matthews did well to turn away. But back came the Terras who created probably their best chances to win with just minutes left.

Philpott floated over a lovely cross from the left flank that deflected off Stephen Benton into the path of the unmarked Phillips inside the box.

It looked a goal all the way as the Cornishman cracked a low left footed shot towards Jones' bottom right hand corner.

But somehow the gloveman got enough of his body behind the effort to send around the post.

And Weston were thankful to their skipper Clark who brilliantly intercepted Claridge's drilled cross, after an outrageous backheel by Buckle, to deny the lurking Phillips.

There was still enough time for one last chance for Weymouth as Claridge scampered his way into the box but could only pull his curler over the top.

Weymouth:
Jason Matthews, Steve Tully, Lee Nightingale, Martin Barlow, Simon Browne,
Jamie Impey, Paul Buckle, Ian Hutchinson, Steve Claridge, Lee Philpott, Lee Phillips

Sub used: Andy Lindegaard
Subs not used: Scott Partridge, Mark Robinson, John Waldock, John Lamb