Johnson steps in to turn Terras fortunes around
by David Swain

Wednesday November 10th 2004

WEYMOUTH 2 MOOR GREEN 1 THERE'S an old sporting adage that says it's better to be lucky than good.

Virtual unknown Steve Johnson has six months to prove his credentials as a head coach at the Wessex Stadium - but it took him just a few minutes to show that good fortune sits squarely on his shoulder.

For 89 minutes last night the Terras gave the kind of clue-less, passion-less performance that gets managers the sack.

Then frustrated new boss Johnson broke his pledge not to get involved and the Terras luck took an almighty change for the better.

Trailing to an altogether more competent Midlands side, they were heading out of the FA Trophy when a huge deflection sent substitute Matt Bound's last minute free-kick spiralling wide of a stranded Adam Rachel in the Moors goal.

Then in stoppage time, fellow sub Paul Buckle was manhandled in the area by Lee Collins for a cast iron penalty - one of several the Terras felt they should have been given - and Lee Phillips smashed a spot-kick winner to send a relieved Wessex crowd into raptures.

With Lee Philpott absent through injury, caretaker coach Buckle gave Adam Wilde a rare start and he almost set up a 20-second opener as the Terras roared out of the blocks.

Getting in behind the Moors defence down the left he delivered a great far post cross which Lee Charles placed just wide of the post.

Then Phillips used his strength to hold off defenders before cracking a right foot drive a couple of feet wide.

But the bright start soon faded into mediocrity and a contest which badly needed something to liven it up almost got it when Moor's Daire Doyle ran at a retreating Weymouth defence in the 23rd minute.

As the Terras backed off he unleashed a 25-yard effort that smacked against the inside of Jason Matthew's right hand upright and rebounded back into play.

Another turgid 20 minutes was momentarily sparked into life by a handbags-at-dawn spat between Nathan Bunce and Moors' Darren Middleton. Then Wilde went sprawling under challenge from Collins fractionally inside the area, only to pick up a booking when he registered his disgust at ref William Bull's decision to award a Moors goal-kick instead of a Terras penalty.

Matthews gathered a firm shot from Matty Hall before rescuing his side with a sprawling fingertip save from Middleton as the visitors finished on top in a first half that had seen the Terras fail to muster a single attempt on target.

Johnson "rattled a few cages" in an unscheduled half-time intervention and for a while after the re-start it seemed to have some effect.

Paul Gibbs drilled a long-range shot over the bar and as the home side went forward with more conviction Lee Charles sent Steve Tully to the line and a diving Phillips rammed a header narrowly wide of the post.

Johnson left the director's box to stand behind the dug-out - a touchline ban prevented him getting any closer to the action - but before he could initiate any changes his side were a goal down.

Jae Martin found time and space on the right to make the break and deliver a measured cross to the far post where Middleton had even more of both as he planted a free header past an exposed Matthews.

Three rapid substitutions smacked of desperation - but they almost paid off within seconds when Bound's

first involvement was to bring a point-blank, first save of the night from Rachel.

Weymouth's penalty appeals were again rejected when Buckle was spectacularly dumped inside the area and the clock was ticking into the last minute when Bound's free-kick was deflected in for the equaliser.

Crestfallen Moors were gutted - but even worse was to come when Collins' ridiculous challenge on Buckle gifted Phillips the opportunity to put his side into the next round.

Will a Trophy run signal yet another new dawn at the Wessex or will last night's success simply paper over the cracks - the juries still out on that one too.