Booth shatters Terras
By Matt Pitman

Monday 20th March 2006

WEYMOUTH were held to a second consecutive home draw after suffering stoppage time heartache at the Wessex Stadium.

Paul Booth's last-gasp equaliser earned Cambridge City a shock share of the Conference South spoils from an action-packed contest.

Raphael Nade headed the tabletopping Terras into an early lead before winger Steve Clark's second half sending off proved the turning point.

Home boss Garry Hill withdrew goalscorer Nade following Clark's controversial dismissal and banked on his defence shutting out free-scoring City.

But after a ten-minute delay following an injury to an assistant referee, Booth equalised with virtually the last kick to leave Weymouth frustrated again.

Terras lead over second place St Albans City is now just three points and Hill's side won't need reminding of the consequences of any more slip-ups.

The fact it wasn't going to be Weymouth's day was evident after only a couple of minutes when the hosts lost full-back Trevor Challis to injury.

The former England under-21 international was caught late by City striker Robbie Simpson on the halfway line and collapsed in agony clutching his left ankle.

Challis, who suffered heavy bruising and left the stadium on crutches, was stretchered off, with Simpson escaping unpunished.

Substitute Simon Downer slotted in at left back and, to his credit, performed superbly to claim the sponsors man of the match award.

With a strong swirling wind gusting around the stadium, it was understandable there was little between the sides early on.

Having said that, Weymouth still created a handful of decent chances with Andy Harris, Clark and Nade all guilty of wasting openings.

Cambridge, with 16 goals to their name in the five games before this one, were kept relatively quiet although Josh Simpson had a low shot saved by Terras keeper Jason Matthews.

Moments later Nade planted a firm shot straight at Naisbitt before Cambridge were forced to turn to one of their only two substitutes when midfielder Greg Lincoln limped off injured.

Matthews made a scrambled save to block at the feet of Booth as the visitors threatened, but Weymouth hit the front with a cracking goal.

Keeper Matthews started the move, bowling the ball out to Clark who won a corner after a powerful 60-yard run down the left.

Harris's resulting flag found Nade who crashed home a header from 12-yards for his eighth goal in the last six starts.

O'bien nearly doubled Weymouth's lead with another header just after the restart, before a Cambridge counter saw Blanchett wildly slice over from 18 yards.

Dangerman Nade was inches away from another goal in first half stoppage time.

The former Woking striker cut in from the left flank and rolled his shot past Naisbitt only for the ball to rebound off the far post.

It was going nicely for Terras until eight minutes after the interval when they were reduced to ten men.

Clark caught Pope with a kungfu style high boot, causing the defender to collapse in agony on halfway.

To be fair to the offender, the challenge probably looked far worse than it was although referee Ben Knight certainly didn't see it that way.

He had no hesitation in giving Clark his second red card of the season, to howls of protest from home fans and Hill who responded by sacrificing Nade and switching to one striker as a result.

The officials remained centre of attention for much of the second half.

Cambridge's Rohhie Simpson and Weymouth midfielder Ben Smith both went into the book as things threatened to spill over.

The match was held up for ten minutes midway through the half when assistant Tim Lawrence suffered a strained calf muscle.

Weymouth-based official Shane Nash volunteered his services to take over from the stricken Lawrence and once play resumed, Terras continued to hold firm.

Perhaps understandably with so much at stake, the hosts showed little ambition to score a second, although McGrath did fire a volley just over from 18 yards.

With Hill's league leaders playing down the clock, Bound, O'Brien and Downer soaked up everything thrown at them.

But deep into stoppage time disaster struck when Cambridge nicked a point thanks to one of their few shots on target.

Booth latched on to Chaffey's long punt from defence, wriggled free in a crowded area and squeezed his shot past Matthews to seal an unlikely draw.