CLARIDGE GRATEFUL FOR VICTORY
by Matt Pitman

Thursday 26 August 2004

STEVE Claridge spoke of his relief after Weymouth secured their first Nationwide South win of the season last night.

Chukki Eribenne set Weymouth on their way to a 3-1 win over Maidenhead United at the Wessex Stadium with a first minute strike.

Lee Phillips regained a second half lead for the Terras after Andy Dugdale got the visitors back on terms, before substitute Martin Barlow sealed the points with a bizarre late goal.

And although Claridge was pleased his side chalked up their maiden maximum haul, he was far from happy with the performance.

He said: "It's a relief to have finally got a win under our belts but, at the same time, the manner of the performance left an awful lot to be desired.

"We probably played far better up at Newport than we did tonight, yet we ended up empty-handed against them and got a win in this one which just shows what an odd game football can be sometimes.

"Tonight was probably the first game since I've been at the club where I've come off having won and thought we were lucky to get the points.

"We were very poor in the opening half tonight and very fortunate not to be behind at the break because Maidenhead had quite a few decent opportunities.

"We invited them to push at us and conceded a sloppy goal having gone ahead very early on.

"I was very disappointed with their goal - we bought Matt Bound, who is six foot plus, in over the summer to head things away at set plays but he was nowhere to be seen.

"I put a few things right at the break, made a couple of changes and we looked a lot brighter in the second half.

"Not everything was perfect but we kept possession a bit better and I think bringing Martin Barlow on was a factor in that.

"He sat in front of the defence and was controlled in his passing. If anyone deserved to score the third goal it was probably him because he did very well."

Claridge said he hoped Barlow's strike - a cross which bizarrely looped over embarrassed Maidenhead keeper Nick Hart - was a sign his luck was turning.

"I said before the game I hoped we got some luck for a change and I think Martin's goal was a nice bit of good luck.

"Hopefully this win will kick-start our season and give us a real boost because getting that first victory under the belt is always important.

"What we need to do is take the positives from the game and build on them.

"Hopefully the players will use this win as a springboard and at least we now go into what will be a tough home game with the leaders Grays Athletic at the weekend with confidence."