Terras in Wessex blitz
By Matt Pitman

Monday 6th February 2006

WEYMOUTH turned on the second half style to finally dish out a long-awaited thrashing at the Wessex Stadium.

Relegation-threatened Maidenhead United were blown away by four second half goals from Garry Hill's Conference
South leaders.

The superb Ben Smith, Raphael Nade, John McGrath and Lee Elam all got themselves on the scoresheet to move Terras ever nearer the league title.

The Dorset full-timers remain six points clear of nearest rivals St Albans and Havant and Waterlooville and on this form will take some stopping.

So often this season Weymouth have threatened to score a hatful in games without fulfilling the promise.

This time though they sent Maidenhead packing thanks to a dazzling display of second half finishing.

Central to Hill's side maintaining their superb unbeaten home record in this league was a cracking performance by former Shrewsbury midfielder Smith.

In addition to scoring in his second successive game, the ex-Yeovil Town star was involved in nearly every good move for the hosts who could easily have scored eight or nine.

With defender Trevor Challis suspended, former Oxford United full back Terry Parker was given a home debut.

Weymouth began with a zip suggesting they were eager to make up for that shock defeat at Carshalton last week but the opening period was the same old story.

The hosts enjoyed all the territory, possession and chances but like many Wessex performances this season, couldn't find the net.

The first of the decent openings came on eight minutes when a superb save by Maidenhead keeper Scott Tarr kept out home midfielder Andy Harris' stinging free kick.

Loan striker Nade headed over from Steve Tully's cross before Roy O'Brien's goal bound nod was cleared off the line by alert Magpies defender Steve Dell.

All the clear chances came the hosts way in the remainder of the opening half.

Nade showed pace down the right, crossed for McGrath who chested down and fired in a wellstruck shot that Tarr tipped away.

Seconds later, O'Connor latched on to Smith's pass but as Tarr came hurtling from his goal, the striker's lob bounced the wrong side of the upright.

Maidenhead, for whom defender Chris Wild had an angry exchange with Weymouth coach Kevin Hales while taking a throw, waited 38 minutes for a first shot.

Striker Nana Badu rolled marker Steve Tully but couldn't trouble home keeper Jason Matthews.

McGrath rattled the outside of Tarr's post at the other end as normal service resumed, then former Maidenhead striker O'Connor was twice denied by Tarr to close a frustrating opening period for the league leaders.

The away side were a whisker away from taking a shock lead out of nothing within a couple of minutes of the restart.

Leggy Badu received possession 30 yards out and cracked a powerful shot which was deflected just wide.

The hosts appeared somewhat pedestrian as the Magpies, well marshalled until this point by exTerra Nathan Bunce, sat back and soaked up the pressure.

Weymouth finally broke through on 58 minutes, although the goal was not without controversy.

Maidenhead were unhappy when referee Ben Knight changed his mind and awarded Terras a corner following Parker's deflected shot.

The home side took full advantage when Elam and McGrath quickly combined to find Harris whose delicate chip was headed home by the unmarked Smith from six yards.

The visitors, possibly seeing no way back, took their frustrations out on O'Connor after the restart when Joe Bruce dived in on the striker from behind, prompting a 20-man bundle.

Once things calmed down, referee Knight booked Bruce, O'Connor, who retaliated, and Bunce.

Hill immediately replaced O'Connor with substitute Kirk Jackson and less than a minute later, Weymouth netted a second goal.

Harris's clipped free kick into the area found Smith who laid off 14 for Roy O'Brien to return the ball into the box and there was Nade to turn home from close range.

Now playing with freedom, the hosts made it 3-0 on 78 minutes and the goal owed plenty again to the midfield skill of Smith.

He broke from midfield and released Nade, who beat the offside trap, and the Carlisle United asset ran on and unselfishly squared for McGrath to tuck home a third.

By now it was a game of keepball for Weymouth and after Smith nearly added a fourth, the leaders netted again with seven minutes left.

Again Smith was the provider, finding Elam who danced his way into the area and had an initial effort charged down by Bunce.

The opening looked to have gone begging but somehow the talented winger regained possession and slotted past Tarr from the tightest of angles.

Just to show he was also on the top of his game, keeper Matthews pulled a wonder save to deny Maidenhead substitute Matt Glynn a late consolation.

In stoppage time McGrath should have netted a fifth for Weymouth, opting to shoot rather than square for team-mate Jackson, and Tarr blocked at point-blank range.