Monday 24th January 2005

PLAY-off rivals Thurrock carried out a smash and grab raid to see off Steve Johnson's young guns at the Wessex Stadium.

It was an open and shut case of daylight robbery as Weymouth slipped to defeat
despite outplaying their high-flying opponents.

Substitute Kris Lee volleyed home a 76th minute winner for the Essex outfit with what proved their only shot on goal during a one-sided second period.

It was rough justice on the hard-working Terras who justifiably felt mugged.

Home fans were fuming with referee Anthony Biddulph who they claimed aided and abetted Thurrock's victory by controversially adjudging Steve Tully to have handled inside his own box.

That was one of many mystifying decisions by the man in black, with Johnson's angry confrontation of the official at the final whistle saying it all.

All that came following a plucky performance by the injury-ravaged hosts whose injury list rivals that of Dorset County Hospital's Accident and Emergency
Department.

Johnson breathed a sigh of relief when three of his nine crocked players, Danny Byrne, Mark Boyce and Bernardo Cariata, declared themselves fit to play ahead of kick off.

However, the Wessex Stadium treatment table is likely to see more bodies this week after another bruising afternoon.

Thurrock's giants took no prisoners in what was a full-blooded contest at the soggy Radipole Lane venue.

The visitors opened brightly as leggy striker Tresor Kandol drew a good save from home keeper Jason Matthews, before midfielder Steve Heffer also went close.

But Johnson's new-look side, of which only two started when these sides met in September, quickly hit back.

Lone striker Kirk Jackson - who took a battering in a fierce battle with marker Richard Goddard - was bundled over by the giant defender 25 yards out.

Snapped

Up stepped free kick expert Danny Byrne to curl a stunning effort past helpless Thurrock keeper Billy McMahon.

The goal inspired the hosts who doggedly snapped at the heels of the visitors who made the trip to the south coast with an impressive away record of seven wins in 11.

Yeovil loanee Nicolas Mirza took no time to settle in on his Terras debut, bossing the centre of the park.

And with skipper Matt Bound keeping a close eye on dangerman Kandol, things looked good for Weymouth.

They had a scare when Kandol nipped in to fire home on 28 minutes, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

It was almost two moments later when Mirza bundled his way into the box, skipped past a couple of chances but scooped his effort over the top.

But with seconds remaining of the half, disaster struck for the Terras.

Glen Poole's free kick was overhit and with Tully running away from goal, the ball appeared to strike the former Torquay United star on the shoulder.

Play continued for a couple of seconds as assistant referee Ken Horrigan, who was facing the incident, failed to flag.

But then referee Biddulph took centre stage, pointed to the spot and was immediately surrounded by a posse of Weymouth players.

Once things settled down, Poole stepped up to slot away the penalty despite Matthews' best efforts.

On the restart, Biddulph immediately sounded the half-time whistle and was escorted off by security officials after Johnson stormed on to the pitch to confront him.

The half-time cuppa gave everyone the chance to calm down and for long periods after the break, the controversy seemed like it would inspire the home side to victory.

Thurrock could hardly get out of their own half and they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Mirza was felled in the box by Ryan Kirby on 49 minutes.

Ludovic Cadima came close to converting from Darren Wheeler's cross and Byrne sent a drive from distance fizzing wide.

Visitors boss Colin McBride threw on substitute Kris Lee for David Lee with 14 minutes left, and the change immediately paid off.

Cliff Akurang was allowed to make a rare second half counter down the right and his cross was volleyed home at the far post by the unmarked Lee.

Having dominated for so long, the set-back seemed to knock the stuffing out of Johnson's side.

They threw men forward in search of an equaliser but Thurrock held firm with some solid defending.

The final whistle was met with jeers from the home faithful for referee Biddulph, with Johnson and his players angrily surrounding the Wiltshire-based official
before his swift departure.