On tour Terras out of Irish luck
by Nigel Biddlecombe

Tuesday 12 July 2005

WEYMOUTH kicked off their pre-season tour of Ireland with a heavy
defeat against Drogheda United last night.

The Terras went down 4-0 to the United Park outfit, who are currently lying fourth in Eircom League and chasing European qualification.

Wearing their new blue and yellow away kit, the visitors were immediately on the
defensive, conceding a corner within the opening 60 seconds which former Cardiff goalkeeper Aaron Lee-Barrett cleared at the second attempt.

And it was all Drogheda during those opening exchanges with Weymouth
being stretched to their limit at the back.

However, once Garry Hill's men had settled, they began to show some promise with Adam Wilde twice sending in testing centres from the left flank and Andy Harris having a free-kick from distance saved.

The hosts came back strongly with Paul Bernard shooting just over while Lee-
Barrett had to react sharply after Carl Wilson-Denis latched on to a cross from
Patrick Sullivan.

United eventually went in front on 11 minutes when David Cassidey rode a couple of challenges before laying off to Bernard who made no mistake from close range.

Weymouth thought they'd scored an equaliser on the quarter hour after Wayne
Purser found the net following Steve Tullys cross and Kirk Jackson's nod down.

But their celebrations were cut short after the assistant referee had ruled the ball had earlier gone out of play.

Drogheda then increased their advantage in the 27th minute when Stephen
Bradley beat Terras defender Trevor Challis before setting up Alan Rielly who converted with ease.

Despite being two goals down, the Terras then started to play some of their best football of the game with Wilde and Steve Clarke particularly impressive in the middle of the park.

And the English side continued to dominate for a good 20 minutes after the restart and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit on a couple of occasions.

United then increased the tempo again midway through the second period and
Finnish international Sami

Ristila wasn't far away from adding to his side's tally with a stinging 20-yard drive.

The hosts finally put the contest out of Weymouth's reach on 71 minutes when
Mark Leech and Mark Rooney combined before Sasu Gutu found the target.

And they completed their scoring five minutes later, this time Leech providing the
finish after good work from midfielder Graham Gartland.

Weymouth : Lee-Barrett, Tully, Challis, O'Brien, Bound, Dutton, Clarke, Harris, Jackson, Purser, Wilde

Subs : Thomas, Taggart, Wilkinson, Hanlon, Eribenne, Webb, Wheeler

Drogheda United : Rogers, Sullivan, Tyrrell, Malcolm, Gartland, Cassidy, Bradley, Bernard, O'Brien, Denis, Reilly

Subs : Hagemen, Hartnett), Gutu, Ristila, Dawson, Leech, Rooney