Matthews' howler costly for Terras
by Matt Pitman

Wednesday 22nd 2004

WEYMOUTH'S goalkeeping nightmare continued as recalled Jason Matthews' late clanger gifted grateful Basingstoke Town a point.

The Terras stopper held his head in his hands after thumping a poor clearance
straight against dangerman Neville Roach allowing the striker to net a 79th
minute equaliser.

The error came after Steve Tully's strike put the hosts in command at the Wessex Stadium last night.

Steve Claridge's men again carved a dozen good chances but could only beat
inspired Town keeper Scott Tarr once.

And this time it was Matthews who joined loan keeper Terry Masterson
after the weekend draw with Carshalton in handing the visitors a goal on a plate.

Weymouth are fast becoming the Nationwide South draw specialists, taking a single point from five of their 11games so far.

And their third successive share of the spoils does little to improve their mid-
table league position.

As expected, unhappy Claridge again rang the changes in his starting line up.

Out went Simon Browne, Nathan Bunce and Lee Philpott following Saturday's disappointing home draw with Carshalton Town.

The trio were replaced by Paul Gibbs, Dave Waterman and surprisingly Jamie
Impey, awarded his first start of the season in defence.

And after an impeccably observed minutes' silence marking the death of football legend Brian Clough, the hosts were soon into their stride.

Weymouth created at least six clear-cut chances during the first period while the
excellent Impey, Waterman and Robbie Pethick hardly gave lively Basingstoke
strikers Roach and Martin Whiddett a sniff.

The first quarter turned into a one-man show as Martin Barlow got forward to do his best to net a rare goal.

The midflelder went close with a 2 yard drive then had an effort blocked by Scott Smith after bursting his way into the box.

The ex-Plymouth Argyle man was at it again on 22 minutes crashing a shot
against keeper Scott Tarr's post, with the off-balance Chukki Eribenne unable to net the rebound.

The home side, playing at a high tempo, continued to impress as Claridge was
inches away from Paul Buckle's dangerous cross.

Basingstoke looked lively on the counter and should have had a penalty when
Roach went down under a Gibbs' challenge.

All eyes were on referee Kevin Pike again shortly after when he turned down
visiting appeals for a spot-kick after Impey's tackle on Whiddett.

Other than that Weymouth continued to pressure as Claridge took the ball off
Eribenne's toes, setting up Buckle but the skipper drove at Tarr.

The Terras looked dangerous down the flanks and Tarr saved smartly from a
Tully header. Pethick and Claridge linked up well before the break for the
former to see the visiting keeper push over his rocket.

But the Weymouth goal that had been threatening to come finally arrived on
the hour.

Eribenne worked hard to win back possession just inside the Basingstoke half,
found Barlow who released Tully with an excellent ball.

He held off a couple of challanges before rifling home from 12 yards.

The visitors made a double change in a bid to get back into it with substittute Jon Dyer added to their attacking ranks.

And a warning sign of what was to follow for the Terras came when Matthews
got into a muddle after trying to ferry out a ball for a goal kick rather than clearing.

In nipped Roach who nicked possession and tumbled over just outside the box to earn a booking for the home keeper.

Matthews' counterpart Tarr narrowed the angle to block from Wilde on 77 minutes before Claridge failed to win a penalty after a challenge from Jason Bristow.

With Weymouth becoming increasingly edgy, one-nil was never enough and so
it proved just a minute later.

Matthews crashed a clearance against the lively Roach who closed him down
after Gibbs let a through ball run through to the shaky keeper.

And the grateful former Reading man gobbled up the loose ball to stroke home
into an empty net.

After looking dead and buried earlier on, Basingstoke almost nicked it in stoppage time when Matthews turned away Dyer's powerful drive.


Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Robbie Pethick, Paul Gibbs, Martin Barlow, Jamie Impey, Dave Waterman, Paul Buckle, Chukki Eribenne, Steve Claridge, Steve Tully, Adam Wilde

Subs : Lee Philpott (for Buckle 87mins), Lee Charles, Ian Hutchinson, Simon Browne, Nathan Bunce

Basingstoke: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Scott Smith, Jason Bristow, Nathan, Stamp, David Ray, Darren Spong, Ron Westell, Martin Whiddett, Neville Roach, Stuart Tanfield

Subs : Jon Dyer (for Tanfield 73mins), Ricky Allaway, Rob Chamberlin (for Westell 73mins), Shaun Allaway, Liam Parrington

Referee: Kevin Pike (Gillingham)

Bookings:

Weymouth: Impey (foul), Matthews (foul)

Basingstoke Town : Stamp (foul), Dyer (foul)