Phillips saves Terras
by David Swain

Monday November 1st 2004

Weymouth drop vital points as ten-man Sutton hold out

WEYMOUTH remain unbeaten under Paul Buckle's direction, but this has to go down as another two home points lost after hopes of a second half revival stumbled against ten-man Sutton.

A free-kick deflection embarrassed Terras keeper Jason Matthews in a dire first half disrupted by a 35-minute search for a replacement linesman and though Lee Phillips pulled his side level midway through the second half, the uninspired Terras simply ran out of ideas when faced with a packed defence.

Buckle again began on the bench, putting his faith in the men who had won in the last minute at Welling.

The decision looked justified as first Phillips and then Chukki Eribenne had goalbound drives blocked by Sutton goal-keeper Phil Wilson and defender John Scarborough in the first five minutes.

But Sutton settled to mount a couple of useful attacks of their own and after Steve Tully charged down a fierce drive from skipper Paul Honey that would have tested the re-instated Matthews, Stuart Booth put a golden, close-range chance into the side netting at the far post after the keeper and lan Hutchinson both failed to deal with Nigel Brake's ball across the goalmouth.

Then Tully was forced to tug back Eddie Akuamoath by the shirt as he
threatened to break clear.

Referee Richard Greenwood sorted out a difference of opinion with his assistant Andy Robinson, who indicated a Sutton infringement, and put Tully's name into his notebook before awarding the visitors a free-kick 25-
yards out.

Sutton's former Crawley midfielder Peter Fear saw his shot clip a defender, in the Terras wall and spiral away from an off-balance Matthews and settle into the far corner as the grounded keeper lost his footing.

Almost immediately the unfortunate Mr Robinson was forced to limp off and confusion reigned before the players returned to the dressing room and an appeal went out for a replacement.

One volunteer was rejected because officials could not confirm his classification and eventually with both clubs' agreement the suitably qualified Terras fixture secretary Pete Saxby, stepped into the breach to save a postponement.

The stop-start nature of a dire game did nothing to boost the entertainment value and the officials took centre stage again in the 31 minute.

Sutton's Tony Quinton, having only just been yellow carded for an innocuous challenge on Eribenne on the left flank, foolishly clipped Phillips with a late tackle on the opposite wing.

Mr Greenwood clearly didn't realise it was the same offender and, had he done so, it was the kind of misdemeanour he might well have dealt with by lecturing the trangressor instead of reaching for his yellow card again.

Quinton clearly thought he had escaped the proper punishment when Mr Greenwood failed to follow yellow with red and allowed him to run back to take up his position for the free-kick.

However, several Terras players and their fans made sure it wasn't overlooked and when Mr Greenwood then checked their claims with his
assistant, Quinton had to go.
Buckle beefed up his attacking options by introducing Adam Wilde and Paul Gibbs for a second half that soon became one-way traffic toward the Sutton goal as the vlsltors dug in for a siege.

But Weymouth's pedestrian build-up played right into their hands and despite all their possession they made few clear-cut openings.

Lee Charles had Wilson making a brave, point-blank stop when he connected with Gibbs' piercing crossfield ball on 65 minutes then Saxby's
offside flag ruled out a potential equaliser from Wilde.

When Phillips eased the frustration by ducking in at the far post to head home a Lee Philpott corner on 68 minutes, the home crowd waited for a 20 minute onslaught that would surely see their side record a second
successive win.

But it never happened and Wilkinson's near miss from Eribenne's cross and Gibbs' long-range drive that was pushed away by Wilson was the closest they came.


Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Steve Tully, Dave Waterman, Nathan Bunce, Ian Hutchinson, Martin Barlow, Lee Charles, Chukki Eribenne, Shaun Wilkinson,
Lee Philpott, Lee Phillips

Subs: Simon Browne, Paul Gibbs (for Bunce 51mins), Adam Wilde (for Barlow 45mins), Paul Buckle (for Philpott 84mins), Francisco Ramos

Sutton United: Phil Wilson, Tony Quniton, Eddie Akuamoah, Stuart Booth, John Scarborough, Nigel Brake, Peter Fear, Paul Honey, Warren Haughton, Glen Boosey, Lewis Gonsalves.

Subs: Evren Arkali, Graig Watkins (for Haughton 72mins), Jeff Vansittart (for Boosey 45mins)

Referee: Mr Richard Greenwood (Exeter)

Bookings:

Weymouth: Tully (foul), Gibbs (foul)

Sutton United: Scarborough (foul)

Sent-off:

Sutton United: Quinton (two-yellow cards)