Jacko's on the Spot
By Matt Pitman

Monday 21st February 2005

KIRK Jackson kept his nerve to fire home a last -gasp penalty and rescue a point for Weymouth.

The striker netted in stoppage time at the Wessex Stadium after substitute Mark Boyce was bundled over by Lewes debutant keeper Michael Hunter.

Steve Johnson's men deserved a share of the spoils having fought back three times to draw level in a rip-roaring Conference South contest.

Jackson's 92nd minute equaliser made it two weeks in a row the Terras have been involved in late drama.

After suffering heartache at Redbridge, this time around they were the side celebrating at the final whistle.

Games between these two sides are usually a cracker and the latest offering certainly did not disappoint.

The pair played out an incredible FA Trophy tie in East Sussex 13 months ago with the Terras winning 8-5.

And there were more goals galore in this latest meeting on a nightmare afternoon for defenders.

Former Lewes assistant boss Johnson left out striker Lee Phillips who is set to quit Weymouth with team-mate Steve Tully for Exeter today.

Starts were given to new signing Marvin Brown, Kieren Keane, Simon Browne and Dave Waterman, returning to the first team after nearly three months out injured.

After a cautious start, the game exploded into life with three goals in just five minutes midway through the opening half.

Steve King's high-flying Rooks, this season's surprise package, took the lead on 20 minutes.

Impressive Anthony Storey, who bossed the 'midfield throughout, ended a jinking run into the box by slipping in loan striker Jon Nurse.

The Stevenage Borough asset still had plenty to do but beat keeper Jason Matthews from an acute angle, despite the stopper's decent efforts to keep it out.

Weymouth responded well from that setback and were soon level in bizarre fashion.

Waterman's whipped over what looked a harmless cross from the right which visiting defender Jay Lovett inexplicably headed past own keeper Hunter.

Time and time again Lewes put the hosts under pressure at set-pieces with Nurse a real threat.

And from another testing cross, the Rooks regained the lead on 25 minutes.

Another dangerous Kirk Watts corner was only half cleared by Matthews to Anthony Storey on the edge of the box who cracked home a stunning volley.

It was nearly 3-1 when Watts burst through into the box, while some good defensive work by Matt Bound and Water man kept out Junior Kadi.

Weymouth struggled to get any flow before the break although Darren Wheeler did go close after cutting in from the right hand flank.

It was a different story after the interval though with the hosts playing with far more determination.

And the improvement was marked with a second equaliser on 54 minutes after a patient build up.

Waterman's pass was neatly held up by targetman Jackson who released Keane to pick his spot and beat the shaky Hunter from 25 yards.

Ludo Cadima, who again looked dangerous, went close after giving the runaround to rap band So Solid Crew member Michael Junior Harvey.

But the Terras had a lucky escape on the hour, both in terms of the score and numerically.

The unmarked Watts drew a good save from Matthews after a swift Lewes counter.

Earlier in the move Waterman, who had already been booked, clattered Nurse from behind.
But the former Oxford United defender had a lucky escape when hapless referee Martin Cassidy mistakenly booked team-mate Matt Bound for the offence instead.

Chances continued to be carved at either end of the park as Hunter saved brilliantly from Wheeler's inswinging free kick and then Browne's point-blank header.

Lewes substitute and ex-Terra Marc Whiteman should have made it a dream return to Weymouth but his close-range effort from Storey's cutback was bravely kept out by Browne on his own line.

The Rooks were squawking again on 76 minutes when they took the lead for a third time with a goal out of the blue.

Kadi's chipped ball in from the right was seized upon by former Yeovil Town star Barrington Belgrave who controlled before thumping home from distance.

Boyce was thrown on to replace cramp victim Cadima and the hosts threw everything at it to try and rescue a point late on.

The Terras thought they had done it when Nicolas Mirza fired in a stinging drive, but Hunter was equal to the shot.

Weymouth's efforts were rewarded in the third minute of stoppage time when Hunter failed to claim Byrne's free kick, Boyce nipped in but was bundled over by the keeper.

Referee Cassidy had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and Jackson duly converted the spot kick.

Weymouth : Jason Matthews, Dave Waterman, Simon Browne, Roy Q'Brien, Matt Bound, Kieren Keane, Ludovic Cadima, Nicolas Mirza, Kirk Jackson, Marvin Brown, Darren Wheeler.

Subs : Danny Byrne (for Keane 73mins), Mark Boyce (for Cadima 86mins), Charlie Welch, lan Hutchinson, Francisco Ramos.

Lewes : Michael Hunter, Jay Lovett, Michael Junior Harvey, Francis Duku, Max Ellison Hustwick, Anthony Storey, Kirk Watts, Barry Paul Moore, Barrington Belgrave, Junior Kadi, Jonathan Nurse.

Subs : Paul Kennett, Lee Newman, Marc Whiteman (for Nurse 65mins), Joseph Vines, Craig Dobson (for Kadi 81 mins).

Referee : Martin Cassidy (Westonsuper-Mare)

Bookings:

Weymouth : Waterman (unsporting behaviour), Bound (foul)

Lewes : Harvey (foul), Lovett (dissent), Hunter (foul)