Two late goals condemn Terras to second defeat
by Michael Gannon

Thursday 19th August 2004

WEYMOUTH boss Steve Claridge was left cursing his luck for the second time in four days as his side crashed to their second successive Nationwide South defeat at Newport County last night.

A penalty kick from Jason Bowen 15 minutes from time and a Carl Wilson-Denis goal after he charged down 'keeper Jason Matthews clearance in the final minute gave the home side the points and left the hotly-tipped Terras still searching for their first win of the new season.

Claridge felt aggrieved not to pick up the three points.

"We didn't deserve to get beat, simple as that," he said.

"Defensively we haven't started the season too well but we created enough chances to win the game.

"The penalty could have gone either way, you see them given and sometimes not.

"I can take heart from the fact that we created plenty of chances and it has been two games now that we should have taken something from but for a bit of luck."

The home side started the brighter and had plenty of possession without creating an awful lot and Weymouth had a couple of efforts from range that sailed over.

They should have taken the lead after Newport 'keeper Roger Freestone could only parry a Paul Buckle cross into the path of Ian Hutchinson but his shot flashed high and wide from a tight angle.

The hosts saw a Jamie Moralee header skim wide and Jonathan Coates was only denied by a Nathan Bruce lunge just before the break.

But after the re-start the Terras stormed out of the blocks and put the Welsh side under severe pressure forcing a series of corners.

Twice Newport full-back Kevin Aherne-Evans header off his goal-line and 'keeper Freestone had to claw away a Lee Philpott effort.

Despite the barrage, it was Newport who took the lead after Bunce had a tug on Scot Young's shirt inside the Weymouth penalty area and the referee pointed towards the spot.

Jason Bowen coolly converted the spot kick and Newport almost doubled their lead but Steve Tully managed to clear a wicked Carl Wilson-Denis cross in the nick of time.

Weymouth huffed and puffed but it was Newport who sealed it after a short back pass was charged down and 'keeper Jason Matthews attempted clearance cannoned off Wilson-Denis and into the net.

Claridge was left looking up to the sky and after two defeats on the trot Weymouth are left looking up the league.

Weymouth: J Matthews, S Tully, I Hutchinson (P Gibbs 87), N Bunce,
M Bound (J Impey 90), D Waterman, P Buckle, S Wilkinson (L Charles
83), C Eribenne, L Philpott, L Phillips

Subs: M Barlow, P Pethick.

Newport County : R Freestone, K Aherne-Evans, L Phillips, N Davies, D Jones,
S Morgan, J Bowen, S Young (c), J Moralee, C Wilson-Denis, J Coates

Subs: A Thomas, N Passmore, A Williams, J Phillips, S O'Sullivan.

Referee: Martin Cassidy (Weston-Super-Mare).

Bookings:

Weymouth: N Bruce (49 persistant fouling), S Wilkinson (13 Foul)

Newport County: S Young (85 foul)