Forest cut down by Webb
by David Swain

Monday 18th July 2005

DAN Webb's 75th minute close-range goal gave Garry Hill's men a winning
start to their home friendly programme at a sun-soaked Wessex Stadium.

Webb lashed the ball home from a few yards out after Chukki Eribenne's powerful header from Darren Wheeler's corner had been beaten away by Rovers' former Terras goalkeeper Francisco Ramos.

The Terras just about deserved their victory, finally getting the edge after both sides followed the traditional pre-season pattern of ringing the changes early in the second half.

Until then the National Conference club, whose squad building plans following a season in which they only escaped relegation through Northwich Victoria's demise appear to be far less advanced than Hill's, had gone closest to breaking the stale-mate.

Owers has so far signed only four men on contract and paraded around a dozen trialists.

And it was one of three Portuguese in his line-up, former Benfica youngster Bruno Texias who was within centimetres of punishing hesitancy in the centre of the Terras back four when his rasping 10th minute volley cannoned back off
the right hand post of a motionless Aaron Lee Barratt.

Steve Clark, the home side's man of the match by a country mile, led the Terras response with a 40-yard run dash down the right before delivering a great cross to Wayne Purser.

From 20 yards he struck a low right-footer that had former Bristol City keeper Clint Davis parrying at full stretch before scrambling possession of the lose ball as Kirk Jackson homed in.

Though both sides were clearly playing well with in themselves in soaring temperatures, referee Chris Brokenshaw wisely followed cricket protocol by ordering a drinks break midway through the first half.

Pace

It was Rovers who seemed more refreshed and Texias almost embarrassed Matt Bound when he pounced on the home skipper's under-played nod back to his keeper on 27 minutes.

Fortunately Lee Barratt was on his toes, advancing to close the striker down and beat away Texias's shot at close quarters.

Clark used his pace and control well on: the right flank it, delivering great crosses either side of half-time that his team-mates failed to make the most
of, before slipping a terrific ball through the visitors' defence for Purser to shoot wide of Ramos's near post.

Second half changes left only Steve Tully and Andy Harris to play the full q0 as Hill utilised his full squad of 20 and as the game became more fragmented the Terras took the initiative.

Webb's goal put them in the driving seat and they coaxed the best out of an erratic Ramos who spiralled acrobatically to flick the ball over when a
Bradley Thomas header from Shaun Wilkinson's free kick looked destined to creep in under the crossbar.

Weymouth : Lee-Barrett (Matthews), Tully, Challis (Wilkinson), O'Brien (Thomas), Bound ( Webb), Hanlon (Dutton), Clark (Hutchinson), Harris, Jackson (Eribenne), Purser (Taggart), Wilde (Wheeler)