Smart move adds to Terras woes
By Matt Pitman

Monday 7th March 2005

EASTBOURNE'S Matt Smart bundled home a second-half winner to all but end Weymouth's faint playoff hopes.

The energetic midfielder's 50th minute effort continued the Terras' recent poor run and moved the Sussex side up to fourth in Conference South.

It was another lacklustre Wessex Stadium display by Steve Johnson's side who have won just once in their last six league outings.

Playing at Radipole Lane is becoming a problem for Weymouth - they have tasted victory on home soil only twice in nine contests.

And despite a spell of pressure midway through the opening half, that poor run never looked like ending against well organised Eastbourne.

Suspended striker Kirk Jackson must have been chomping at the bit as he watched his team-mates enjoy plenty of possession but fail to beat impressive visiting keeper Lee Hook.

And with the Terras lacking that cutting edge, the hosts must be rueing releasing Lee Phillips who netted Exeter City's winner at York City on Saturday.

One goal always looked to be enough and the in-form visitors were content to shut up shop as soon as Smart grabbed it after the restart.

Johnson, who fielded defender Roy O'Brien in an unconventional left back role and ineffective striker Marvin Brown after his two goals for Yeovil Reserves in midweek, must be wondering where the next win is coming from.

With tricky trips on the horizon to Havant, Grays and Cambridge, victories are needed and quick to prevent the Terras from tumbling towards the relegation zone.

Both sides squared up with identical formations meaning much of the first half was a cautious affair.

Eastbourne, happy to sit back and soak up pressure, rarely threatened although Matt Crabb and Smart both fired wide with pot-shots from distance.

Terras defender Dave Waterman was lucky to escape an early bath on 14 minutes when he caught Crabb with a fore
arm smash during a tussle for a high-ball.

But referee Kevin Johnson took a lenient view of the offence and only booked the former Oxford United star.

Set-pieces looked the most likely route for either side, with Weymouth coming close on 23 minutes.

Debutant Brian Dutton - one of the few bright spots on a miserable afternoon stole in to meet Darren Wheeler's free kick but his header was turned behind by Hook.

That started a brief purple patch as moments later loanee Nicolas Mirza got the faintest of touches to Danny Byrne's cross but could only watch in agony as his header flashed wide.

Wheeler, who looked lively down the left flank, then headed off on a strong run into the box but his clipped shot crashed into Hook's side-netting.

That was about as good as it got for Weymouth with little to note for the rest of the half.

With Borough's former Yeovil striker Yemi Odubade well-marshalled by markers Bradley Thomas and Matt Bound, the visitors relied on shots from distance as Crabb drove wide after a poor pass from O'Brien.

Byrne almost -gave the hosts the lead from a couple of well-flighted free kicks, the latter brilliantly saved by the agile Hook.

That was the former Manchester United youngster's last involvement before being replaced by Ludovic Cadima
at the break through a twisted ankle.

Things didn't get any better after' the half-time cuppa, with the game littered with stoppages and free kicks.

The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession but could not fashion a clear-cut chance.

And they paid the price on 50 minutes when Jason Matthews could only push Crabb's low drive into the path of Danny Chapman in a crowded box.
Chapman's stab goalwards was only half-cleared and there was Smart to bundle home, despite the best efforts of Water man on the line.

A good recovery from Thomas stopped Odubade from making it two moments later as the stocky striker raced through.

Weymouth strikers Brown and loanee Kezie Ibe continued toiling away without any joy.

Another Wheeler cross almost did the trick on 75 minutes, but Bound could not direct.his header goalwards.

The visitors always looked comfortable defending their lead, getting plenty of players behind the ball and frustrating the hosts.

Only Mirza threatened for the shot-shy Terras late on, latching on to a pass after Wheeler cut inside.

But the Yeovil Town asset pulled his shot well wide of Hook's goal to send the home fans scurrying for the Wessex Stadium exits.