Terras Given Finishing Lesson
By Matt Pitman

Monday 18th April 2005

CHAMPIONS Grays Athletic gave Weymouth a lesson in finishing at the Recreation Ground.

The all-conquering Essex outfit, warming-up for next month's FA Trophy final at Villa Park, saw off the Terras without ever hitting the heights.

The two-goal defeat was harsh on Garry Hill's men who worked their socks off and created a string of decent chances.

But you don't win Conference South points through hard work alone and Grays - despite missing many of their big-guns - had the required class and composure in front of the target to grab the win.

Having signed many of the hosts players for Hornchurch before their financial collapse earlier this season, Hill knew exactly what he would face in this clash.

The Terras boss, missing defender Roy O'Brien through flu; opted to try and frustrate the title winners and rely on lone
striker Kirk Jackson.

For long periods Hill's tactics were effective as Grays struggled to overwhelm their opponents like they have so many teams this season.

The hosts were grateful to keeper Jason Matthews' early howler allowing Martin Carthy to head them ahead before Tony Battersby added a late second.

Facing the FA Trophy finalists has not been an easy prospect for any side this season but for 45 minutes, Weymouth more than matched their goal-crazy opponents.

Winger Steve Clark, back after a period of illness, set up Darren Wheeler early on only for the teenager to fire wide.

But the Essex outfit soon punished the Terras by showing their conviction in front of goal on 11 minutes.

Keeper Jason Matthews was caught in no man's land coming for a high ball, allowing striker Martin Carthy to climb and head into an unguarded net. .

Having fallen behind to the champions early you feared Weymouth would be sent back to the south coast on the end of a thrashing.

But to their credit, the visitors continued to press and probably should have been at least level at the interval.

Grays were forced to make a double change midway through the opening period, losing Steve West and Leroy Griffiths to injury.

After that enforced substitution, the Terras wasted a string of decent chances to get back on terms.

Simon Browne's throw was flicked on by hard-working striker Kirk Jackson to Wheeler but once again the winger's finishing let him down.

Wheeler then turned provider, his corner being met by Brian Dutton to head straight at Grays keeper and former Terras trialist Carl Emberson from close range.

The visitors continued to enjoy their lengthy purple patch as Dutton headed yet another Weymouth corner inches over before another good opening came their way just before the interval.

Big defender Matt Bound thumped a free kick goalwards from the edge of the box, only for Emberson to save well.

There was little change after the break, with Weymouth continuing to press forcing corner after corner.

Dutton had a decent shout for a penalty turned down when the midfielder appeared to be hauled back in the area.

At the other end some good defending snuffed out the lurking Carthy and substitute Tony Battersby who were searching for a decisive second.

An equaliser looked on the cards as Clark dragged just wide after a decent move, then Dutton again had a header denied by the alert Emberson.

With Weymouth throwing men forward late on in search of a point, they were caught by a Grays sucker-punch.

A swift counter ended with Carthy finding strike partner Battersby who galloped through to coolly slot past Matthews.

Hill threw on Chukki Eribenne in addition to fellow substitute Charlie Macdonald and Jackson but still Weymouth could not find a way past Emberson in the closing minutes.

Weymouth : Jason Matthews, Dave Waterman, Simon Browne, Matt Bound, Bradley Thomas, Brian Dutton, Steve Clark, Ian Hutchinson, Kirk Jackson, Shaun Wilkinson, Darren Wheeler

Subs : Chukki Eribenne (for Wheeler), Charlie Welch, Charlie Macdonald (for Hutchinson), Adam Wilde, Francisco Ramos

Grays Athletic : Carl Emberson, Joe Bruce, Jude Sterling, Ade Olivinea, Steve Robinson, Dean Brennan, Aaron McClean, Martin Carthy, Steve West, John Martin, Leory Griffiths

Subs : Tony Battersby (for West), Ashley Bayes, Mitchell Cole (for Griffiths), Dennis Oli, John Nutter

Referee : A Parker