Nightingale The Source Of Worcester's Woes
by David Swain

Wednesday 17 March 2004

An early double strike from Luke Nightingale and a third in the second half from fired-up player-boss Steve Claridge got Weymouth's promotion push back on track at the Wessex Stadium last night.

In-form Worcester hit back on the hour through danger man Adam Wilde, but the Terras were in no mood to let a precious three points slip as they killed the game to leave City contemplating their first defeat in ten games and the end of their own slender title hopes.

But for all their efforts in overcoming their recent blip, the win only preserved the status quo at the top of the Dr Martens Premier Division following league leaders Crawley's 6-1 thumping of strugglers Hednesford Town at the Broadfield Stadium.

Claridge shook up his squad by bringing in new goalkeeper Jimmy Glass - dropping Jason Matthews to the bench for the first time this season - and on-loan attacking midfielder Liam Horstead from Portsmouth, and the Terras boss led by example as the home side got at their visitors from the outset.

Sponsor's selections for man of the match can be a trifle bizarre. But last night they got it spot on by awarding the honour to Claridge in an absorbing contest well handled by referee Paul Hutton from Plymouth.

He was back to his waspish best, buzzing around up front in a no-holds-barred battle with former Bath defender John Holloway and finding time to drop back and help out in defence when Worcester threatened to get a foothold at either end of each half.

City had the game's first opening after six minutes when Wilde's left wing corner left skipper Carl Heeley with a free header from eight yards. But he powered his effort down into the ground when Glass must have anticipated an early opportunity to show his mettle.

The former Cherries star, who has been playing recently in the Dorset Premier League for Bournemouth Sports, is adept at turning defence into attack with big clearances and the Terras shook City with a rapid strike on nine minutes.

A good inter-change of passes ended with Claridge putting Nightingale in on goal and from ten yards he produced a crisp low finish that left City keeper Danny McDonnell helpless.

Wilde had a low shot comfortably scooped up by Glass before the Terras made it 2-0 after 16 minutes. Steve Tully was hacked down by veteran left back Paul Carty as he tore at pace down the right flank and with the Worcester defence slow to spot the danger, Lee Philpott's quickly taken free-kick across the goalmouth was scrambled home by Nightingale.

Tully was giving Carty a torrid time and he left him standing again in the 20th minute before delivering a low cross that was begging to be touched in. The City man was booked for another late challenge on 28 minutes and lived dangerously when he barged Tully in the back just two minutes later.

As the Terras switched the offensive to the opposite flank Horstead began to make his mark, seeing one fierce shot charged down by a defender before combining slickly with Claridge and delivering a threatening cross that the visitors defence scrambled back to McDonnell.

After half an hour of being closed down so rapidly they hardly knew what had hit them, John Barton's side began to look more dangerous as the interval approached.

Glass had to throw himself forward to punch away Jai Stanley's free-kick and Wilde should have cut their deficit in the 34th minute.

Leon Kelly's pass cut out Robbie Pethick to put Wilde clear on the left but he appeared to get the ball trapped under his feet before chipping it into the side-netting as Glass narrowed the angle.

A miskick by Graeme Power then presented Pat Lyons with the ball deep in the Terras area and home fans breathed again as he too failed to make anything of it.

As Worcester finished the half on top Glass was well behind Leon Kelly's long-range strike and then bravely snatched the ball at Lyon's feet inside the six yard box.

Tim Clancy made a superb recovering tackle to stop former Cambridge City livewire Wilde in his tracks when he threatened a breakthrough early in the second half and Worcester's hopes of getting back into the match quickly suffered another hammer blow in the 57th minute.

Nightingale's header sent Tully on another speedy raid down the left and with three fast-breaking Terras queuing up to receive his cross, Claridge needed no-one else's assistance. He brought the ball under control, half turned to throw off his marker and then drilled a shot hard and low past McDonnell from 15 yards for a great finish.Two minutes later the menacing Wilde finally delivered with a dazzling solo run into the area that took him past both Jamie Impey and Clancy and his shot took a deflection to leave Glass flat-footed.

But there was to be no revival for City as the Terras battled like men possessed to protect their lead with Glass only extended by Kelly's injury time effort that would have been ruled out in any event by an offside flag.

Sponsor's Man Of The Match: Steve Claridge

Weymouth:
Jimmy Glass, Steve Tully, Graeme Power, Robbie Pethick, Tim Clancy,
Jamie Impey, Paul Buckle (c) (Martin Barlow 61), Liam Horstead (Ian Hutchinson 74), Steve Claridge, Lee Philpott, Luke Nightingale

Subs: Shaun Wilkinson, Jason Matthews, Scott Dennis
Booked: Pethick

Worcester City:
Danny McDonnell, Allan Davies, Carl Heeley, John Holloway, Adam Wilde,
Pat Lyons, Paul Carty (Barry Woolley 76), Jai Stanley, Adam Webster (Mark Owen 70), John Snape, Leon Kelly.

Subs: Darren Middleton, Shaun Hayes, Liam McDonald
Booked: Carty, Wilde, Heeley

Referee: Paul Hutton (Plymouth)