Terras' play-off hopes are put to the sword
by Matt Pitman

Tuesday 29th April 2005

Cambridge City enjoyed a second-half rush to concedmn Garry Hill to his first defeat as Weymouth boss.

The hosts boosted their Conference South play-off hopes with a devastating display of fnishing at Milton Road.

Gary Roberts' well-drilled side made the Terras, who included three debutants, pay for failing to take chances either side of the break.

This heavy loss effectively ends any slight hope the Dorset side may have of sneaking into the promotion play-offs. The hammering was probably a little harsh on Hill's outfit who for around an hour looked in with a shout.

But once Matt Robinson put City ahead on 54 minutes the home side ran riot in the Cambridgeshire sunshine to halt a run of only two wins in the last seven.

Hill handed debut starts to strikers Vil Powell, Charlie Macdonald and winger Steve Clark.

The trio came in for defender Bradley Thomas - missing ill - and midfielders Brian Dutton and Darren Wheeler.

All three looked lively, particularly on-loan Powell whose strength and power made him a real threat down the right.

It was the Grays Athletic asset who had the best of the first half chances for the visitors after creating the openings himself.

Powell neatly controlled Matt Langston's headed clearance from Roy O'Brien's deep free kick, cut inside and sent a rasping drive just wide on 24 minutes.

There was plenty of neat build up play from both sides in the opening exchanges but little in the way of shots on target. Weymouth were

grateful to defender Matt Bound for a last ditch clearance after some shaky keeping from Francisco Ramos.

Macdonald looped a header over from Wilkinson's free kick midway through the half as the Terras frustrated their high-flying hosts.

Powell hammered a speculative drive well over from a tight angle and seconds later came even closer to putting his new side ahead.

Kirk Jackson and Dave Waterman combined to set up Powell who skipped inside and fizzed a shot inches past keeper Duncan Roberts' far post.

Cambridge's best chances before the interval were wasted as striker Dave Sadler ended a swift counter with a wild slice. Then another lightning raid ended with the same player latching on to Richard Scott's neat ball, only for Bound to block inside his area to clear.

The turning point in the contest came at the start of the second half. First referee Richard Beevor, who struggled throughout with a leg injury, turned down Weymouth's appeal for a penalty after Macdonald appeared to be pulled by Langston.

Then Powell went agonisingly close with another piledriver from just inside the box after Jackson's cushioned lay-off.

The Terras were made to pay for that miss four minutes later when City showed them how it is done. Scott linked up with Dale Binns near the edge of the area only for O'Brien to get a foot in to break up play.

But the ball broke for Robinson to crack a first-time drive past the helpless Ramos from 25 yards.

The goal hero drove over moments later, before Hill threw on Dutton and the returning Adam Wilde for Wilkinson and Welch to boost his attacking options.

Robinson went close with a header before Cambridge effectively sealed the points on 73 minutes.

Veteran Scott, who controlled play in the middle of the park, found Binns down the left who skipped inside the area and was clearly hauled back by the beaten Clark.

Sadler stepped up to lash home the resulting penalty to leave Weymouth with a mountain to climb. With at least five attacking players out there for the visitors, Cambridge stepped up the pressure on Weymouth's rear-guard in the closing stages.

It was 3-0 on 79 minutes when Binns played a cracking 50 yard ball out of defence for Robinson who broke the offside trap and coolly lobbed over Ramos from range.

The Terras keeper was lucky not to concede a spot-kick when he sent Robinson tumbling after the restart. Cambridge capped their superb second-half performance when they made it four with six minutes left.

Gary Fiskin broke from midfield, turned on to his right foot and sent a looping shot past Ramos from 25 yards.

There was still time for the Terras to net a late consolation as Dutton rose high to head home from Clark's looping corner.

Weymouth : Francisco Ramos, Dave Waterman, Charlie Welch, Matt Bound, Steven Clark, Roy 0'Brien. Shaun Wilkinson, Ian Hutchinson, Kirk Jackson, Charlie Macdonald, Vill Powell.

Subs : Darren Wheeler, Simon Evans, Mark Boyce (for Hutchinson 83), Brian Dutton (for Wilkinsan 63), Adam Wilde (for Welch 63).

Cambridge City : Duncan Roberts, Craig Pope. Lee Summerscales, Glen Fuff, Matt Langston, Rob Miller, Richard Scott, Matt Robinson, Gary Fiskin, Dave Sadler, Date Binns

Subs : Barry Smith (for Scott 88), Alan Calton, Darren Spinks (for Sadler 84), John Stevenson (for Flobinson 84), Michael Gash.

Referee : Richard Beevor (Norwich)

Bookings :

Weymouth : none

Cambridge City : Scott (foul)