Battling Terras hold on after Annon's gift
By Matt Pitman

Monday 13th September 2004

MARGATE skipper Darren Annon was the toast of Weymouth after his own goal
secured travel sick Terras their first away win since April 3rd.

The home defender was left red faced after inexplicably turning Lee Phillips' 13th minute cross past own keeper Nejdet Hussein.

And that moment of madness proved decisive as Steve Claridge's men held on to win a dour contest at Ashford Town's bleak Homelands ground.

The Dorset side made it two wins on the bounce with arguably one of their worst performances this season.

After an early bright spell, Weymouth rarely troubled Hussein and spent much of this Nationwide South contest camped in their own half.

But, for once, they stood firm under severe pressure aided by a string of saves by keeper Jason Matthews to claim their first clean-sheet of the season.

A tally of three-wins and a draw from their last five game suggests Claridge's new look side are starting to get the results needed after a woeful start.

For the opening quarter, Weymouth seemed the only team in what proved to be a poor spectacle at the windswept Kent ground.

Homeless Margate, former FA Cup giantkillers, looked a pale shadow of their former selves in the opening stages as Claridge and co threatened to run riot.

Pressure Hussein blocked Claridge's low shot early on before galloping winger Steve Tally failed to control a high cross-field ball from Adam Wilde as he scampered through.

The early pressure from the visitors paid off on 13 minutes when they took the lead with what proved the only goal of the game.

A poor clearance by Hussein was seized upon by alert striker Lee Phillips who set upon a forceful run into the home box.

The former Plymouth Argyle youngster retrieved possession after an interception by long-serving defender Bill Edwards and his cross was diverted home by the
unlucky Annon.

Weymouth have thrown away countless leads this season and 'after going ahead looked determined not to do so again.

Defensive trio Nathan Bunce, Matthew Bound and Robbie Pethick all had to be at the top of their game as Margate turned the screw after the Terras early break-through.

Margate defender Greg Gates' set-pieces were the hosts most likely route as Matthews saved well from a couple of his dangerous efforts, visitors as they enjoyed a brief respite from all the defensive work.

Chris Kinnear's hosts wasted a great opportunity to get hack on terms just before the break when Adrian Clarke volleyed over after neat work between Che Stadhardt and Rocky Baptiste.

There was to be on let up in pressure after the interval as the home side continued to threaten but lacked the quality needed to find a way through.

The Terras had a let off when Baptiste, who netted for Farnborough at Arsenal in the FA Cup a couple of years ago,watched his downward header from six yards bounce over.

With the visitors struggling to get out of their half, Dean Beckwith was inches away from netting an equaliser.

The loan defender fired goalwards after getting on the end of John Keister's through ball.

Matthews failed to cleanly claim the effort but grabbed the ball at the second attempt just as it was about to cross the line.

The pressure on the Weymouth defence continued to mount as time ebbed away.

And that tension appeared to boil over when Bunce and Pethick had to be separated by team-mates after a shoving match between the two on the pitch during a break in play.

The pair were soon putting all their aggression into again preserving the Terras slender lead as Margate threw men forward in the closing stages.

But when they did carve a clear cut chance Kinnear's men found Matthews in the way.

The keeper was equal to substitute Aaron Barnett's stoppage time close range effort.

And there was still time for Margate midfielder John Keister to receive his marching orders for his second bookable offence for dissent.


Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Steve Tully, Adam Wilde, Nathan Bunce, Matt Bound, Robbie Pethick, Paul Buckle, Martin Barlow, Steve Claridge, Lee Philpott, Lee Philips

Subs: Chukki Eribenne, Lee Charles, Ian Hutchinson, Simon Browne, Dave Waterman

Margate: Nejdet Hussein, Greg Oates, Peter Benevides, Bill Edwards, Dean Beckwith, Darren Annon, John Keister, Pat Cradley, Che Stadhart, Rocky Baptiste, Adrian Clarke

Subs: Alexis Charalambous, Tamba Ngongou, Moses Jjunju, Aaron Barnett (for Gradley 87 mins)

Referee: Mr I Crouch

Bookings:

Weymouth: Philips (unsporting behaviour)

Margate: Keister (foul) 25