Urchins put a dent in Terras title dreams
By Matt Pitman

Tuesday 31st August 2004


Slick Hornchurch's first half double condemned sorry Weymouth to another Nationwide South defeat yesterday.

The title favourites sent Steve Claridge's troops tumbling to a third league reversal in six outings at Bridge Avenue to leave dents in the Terras' title hopes already.

Defender Lee Matthews and striker Wayne Purser were on target before the break to secure the points for the ambitious full-timers.

Player-boss Claridge pulled the visitors level from the penalty spot against the run of play.

But despite plenty of possession after the interval, the visitors could not find a way past keeper Mark Westhead.

Things were made worse for Weymouth when keeper Jason Matthews was controversially sent off in the dying seconds.

Stand-in keeper Robbie Pethick prevented Hornchurch from making it three, acrobatically saving Damon Searle's resulting spot-kick.

The home side, belived to be bankrolled in the tune of £750,000 this season, have been tipped by many to be celebrating promotion come next May.

For 45 minutes Garry Hill's side looked every bit title favourites and could have been three or four goals to the good by the break.

Former Bristol City skipper Shaun Carey fired wide early on before the hosts made their early pressure pay off on five minutes.

Dead-ball expert Searle sent over a superb inswinging corner for Matthews to pwer home a header at the far post.

Lively winger Lee Elam could and should have doubled Hornchurch's lead moments later, firing wide after latching on to ex-Yeovil Town striker Kirk Jackson's flick.

The hosts continued to create openings with some lovely short passing as Purser showed marker Dave Waterman a clean pair of heels down the right before cutting inside and bringing the best out of Matthews with a low drive.

Once the Terras finally did threaten Shaun Wilkinson headed wide from a decent position from Steve Tully's cross.

Less than a minute later Weymouth pulled level against the run of play with a debatable penalty.

Lee Phillips skipped his way past Matthews before going down under a challange from the big defender.

Referee Mark Ives pointed to the spot, to the dismay of the home side, and up stepped Claridge to cooly beat Westhead from the resulting penalty.

Hornchurch immediately stepped up a gear and restored normals service three minutes later.

Searle's corner caused confusion in Weymouth's box, Matthews fumbled Jackson's turn and shot and there was Ourser to force home from close range.

The Terras gloveman redeemed himself moments later saving well from Jackson's drive.

The visitors then wasted a golden opportunity to draw level just before the break.

Phillips latched on to Adam Wilde's slide-rule pass, took a couple of strides but his cushioned shot rolled agonisingly wide of Westhead's near post.

Dimunitive Purser nodded wide from Elam's cross after the interval but the cances for the hosts dried up after that.

Once Paul Buckle replaced Wilkinson in midfield, the visitors enjoyed far more pressure but hardly tested Westhead.

With the onus on getting the ball forward early, Claridge's side lacked the quality needed to get back in it.

It took a great last-ditch challange from Pethick to deny substitute Jean Michel Sigere on the counter midway through the second period.

Weymouth threw men forward in the closing stages to try and rescue a point and Claridge could have done so but headed straight at Westhead from Ian Hutchinson's free-kick.

With time running out, the Urchins were happy to play on the counter-attack and should have made it three on 88 minutes.

A slip by Nathan Bunce let in powerful Siegre who rounded Matthews and appeared to be shoved by Pethick just as he was about to net.

But referee Ives gave the Terras keeper his marching orders, believing he commited the offence.

Pethick donned the gloves and dive full length to save Searle's well-struck penalty and the hosts hung on despite ten minutes of stoppage time.

Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Steve Tully, Paul Gibbs, Nathan Bunce, David Waterman, Robbie Pethick, Martib Barlow, Shaun Wilkinson, Steve Claridge, Adam Wilde, Lee Philips

Subs: Paul Buckle (for Wilkinson 57mins), Matt Bound, Chukki Eribenne (for Gibbs 74mins), Ian Hutchinson (for Wilde 67mins), Jamie Impey

Hornchurch: Mark Westhead, Scott Gooding, Damon Searle, Jamie Stuart, Lee Matthews, Shaun Carey, Steve Clarke, Darren Caskey, Kirk Jackson, Wayne Purser, Lee Elam 61mins), Ashley Bayes

Subs: Steve West, Adrian Harris (for Caskey 68mins), Danny Shipp (for Clarke 68mins), Jean Michel Sigere (for Elam 61 mins)

Referee: Mark Ives

Bookings:

Weymouth: Matthews (Sent off) 86mins

Hornchurch: