Duo in from the cold
By Matt Pitman

Monday 28th March 2005

GARRY Hill gave Terras out-casts Chukki Eribenne and Shaun Wilkinson the chance to come in from the cold and the pair grabbed it with both hands.

The duo, both shipped out on loan by previous manager Steve Johnson, each netted at Maidenhead United on their first starts since being recalled to the Wessex Stadium.

Skipper Matt Bound was also on target during a prolific 45 minutes when Weymouth forgot all about their recent goalscoring problems and gave Hill a debut success.

Despite a nervy second period, Hill's charges survived relentless pressure to end a run of six Conference South games without a win.

The morale-boosting success was achieved at York Road thanks to plenty of hard-work, grit and determination.

And central to that were the returns of Eribenne and Wilkinson who both relished in being handed fresh starts by the former Hornchurch boss.

Right from the kick off, Eribenne looked eager to impress alongside strike partner Kirk Jackson following his loan stint at Farnborough.

And it took just four minutes for the powerful frontman to show what the Dorset side have been missing in his absence.

Perfect

Eribenne lashed home from 12 yards after winger Darren Wheeler cut in from the left flank and marker Jamie Cook slipped inside the area.

It was the perfect start to Hill's rein and left the struggling hosts reeling in the bright Berkshire sunshine.

But the Magpies finally found their feet with strikers Craig O'Connor and former Terra loanee Lewis Cook looking dangerous.

After a couple of early sighters at visiting stopper Francisco Ramos, Maidenhead pulled level on 14 minutes aided by some shaky keeping.

The Portugese understudy failed to deal with Damon Ming's nod down from Dean dark's centre, allowing Guy Ekwalla to fire into an unguarded net.

Ramos made amends moments later blocking at the feet of Lewis Cook as he raced through.

Hesitant defending from both sides continued to be the order of the day with a goal feast looking likely.

It was Weymouth who again got their noses in front on 28 minutes thanks to sheer determination from Wilkinson.

The battling midfielder's initial shot from Wheeler's cross was blocked by Ekwalla but after neat play by Jackson and Eribenne, Wilkinson fired home a loose ball past loan keeper Adam Federici.

It's fair to say the former Havant and Wateriooville star has not been a firm favourite with the Radipole Lane faithful after a controversial season.

But a few more goals and performances like this one and those fans will surely warm again to Wilkinson.

Some good defending from Bound, kicking the ball away from Lee Kersey, kept the visitors ahead before Ramos tipped over dark's cross-cum-shot at full stretch.

Weymouth took a giant stride awards achieving their first league double of the season four min[tes before the interval.

lan Hutchinson was fouled near the left corner of the box, with Cheeler sending over a pinpoint ross from the resulting free kick.

The flight was perfect for Bound to come steaming in at the far post to plant a looping header past Federici and into the far corner.

With the Terras well and truly in command, Hill probably could not have asked anymore of his side at the break.

The lead could and should have been even more convincing just ater the restart when Eribenne got in behind last-man Brian Connor but lashed his shot wide of the near post.

Then dark nearly netted an own goal, wildly slicing Brian Dutton's centre against his own bar.

Weymouth continued to carve the best chances, as Wilkinson set up Jackson down the right for Federici to push the striker's low drive away from the lurking Eribenne.

But the home side were not prepared to go down without a fight, with the introduction of substitute striker Lawrence Yaku turning the tide.

He drew a good save from Ramos after skipping past Roy O'Brien, in an unconventional left back position, midway through the half.

The visitors, who lost Wilkinson to a minor knock, conceded a second with 20 minutes left.

Cook and Yaku combined well in a crowded area for O'Connor to make no mistake from close range.

Suddenly the Magpies sensed a point in their bid to beat the drop and threw men forward in a bid to get back into it.

Kersey got up highest in a crowded area to head dark's corner just too high as the visitors endured some nervy moments at the back.

Then, with seconds remaining, a posse of desperate Terras defenders cleared O'Connor's close-range stab to ensure victory.

Weymouth : Francisco Ramos, Dave Waterman, lan Hutchinson, Matt Bound,
Roy O'Brien, Bradley Thomas, Brian Dutton, Shaun Wilkinson, Kirk Jackson,
Chukki Eribenne, Darren Wheeler.

Subs : Ludovic Cadima (for Eribenne 79mins), Mark Boyce (for Wilkinson 57mins), Kieren Keane, Charlie Welch (for Wheeler 85mins), Nick Carroll.

Maidenhead United : Adam Federici, Brian Smith, Tom McGowen, Brian Connor,
Lee Kersey, Dean Clark, Lewis Cook, Guy Ekwalla, Craig O'Connor, Damon
Ming, Jamie Cook

Subs : Andy Dugdal (McGowen 79mins), Lawrence Yaku (for Ming 50mins), Barrie Matthews, Andre Fashanu (for Cook 71mins), Ben Townsend

Referee : Paul Toyer

Bookings :

Weymouth : Dutton (foul)

Maidenhead United : Smith (foul)