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Fortress Wessex holds strong
By Matt Pitman
12th September 2005
There is no place like home for Weymouth.
The Terras comfortably saw off Thurrock to make it seven games
unbeaten at the Wessex Stadium under boss Garry Hill.
Weymouth, whose fortunes at Radipole Lane have improved no
end since the former Hornchurch manager's arrival in March,
survived a bruising battle to continue the good run.
Second half goals from Wayne Purser and substitute Darren
Wheeler proved enough to earn the hosts a crucial three Conference
South points.
The Terras, whose stuttering start this season has frustrated
their long-suffering supporters, are yet to taste victory
away from the resort yet look invincible at home.
And on this form - with strikers Wayne Purser and Kirk Jackson
sharp and central defenders Matt Bound and Roy O'Brien rock
solid - the Wessex seems set to remain a fortress for months
to come.
The latest success came after they surivived a first half
roughing up from tough-tackling Thurrock.
But the Terras dished out punishment of their own when Purser
swept home and Wheeler netted late on to seal the win.
After losing a handful of players to injury on the eve of
the contest, Hill moved quickly to sign two new squad members.
Former Chester City midfielder Andy Watson and ex-Leyton
Orient centre half Simon Downer have agreed non-contract terms
with the full-timers.
And it was Watson, released by Chester in the summer after
missing nearly a year with a knee injury, who caught the eye
down the left flank in a scrappy opening half.
Early on he connected with Steve Tully's hanging cross to
draw a decent save from Thurrock keeper Glenn Knight, then
saw a low
drive blocked by Richard Goddard. The visitors showed little
attacking presence although striker Craig O'Connor went close
on ten minutes, firing wide from distance.
But the powerful Essex side soon had home fans fuming by
conceding what seemed like foul after foul - 16 before the
break.
Thurrock showed more aggression than a back street brawl
and how
they emerged with only three book-
ings, only referee Paul Hutton will
know.
The most noteworthy came when Terras defender Steve Tully was
cynically clattered by ex-West Ham star Lee Hodges who had already
been yellow carded.
But referee Hutton decided the stocky winger deserved another
chance, only to see Hodges substituted minutes later.
Between all the stoppages, some football occasionally broke
out. Purser drove inches past Knight's right hand post for
Weymouth - for whom Ian Hutchinson performed solidly at left
back.
Purser then drew another decent save on the half hour from
Knight who signed non-contract terms with Weymouth last season
only to leave without making an appearance.
Bound's meaty effort stung the hands on Knight as the hosts
continue to press as the half time cuppa neared.
Moments before the break referee Hutton was the centre of
attention again.
Terras keeper Jason Matthews collected a loose ball perilously
close to the edge of his area, pursued by O'Connor.
After appealing for handball the striker ran into Matthews,
sending him sprawling to the turf, but some-how escaped unpunished.
Play was more open and less ill-tempered after the break
and it was Andy Harris who had Weymouth's first chance after
the restart, shooting inches past the post.
The introduction of Wheeler, for the lively Watson, gave
the home side an extra spark and within eight minutes of his
arrival they were ahead.
Wheeler, who has missed much of the season so far with an
ankle knock, swung over an inswinging corner from the right
which found O'Brien.
He headed down for Purser to ram past Knight from six yards
to grab his second goal since joining the Terras.
It should have been game, set and match for Weymouth on 67
minutes when Jackson broke the visitors' off-isde trap and
squared for Purser.
The former Peterborough man took a touch and drilled right-footed-from
12 yards for what looked a goal all the way.
But with home fans in the main stand already on their feet,
the ball agonisingly flashed past Knight's far post.
Moments later his strike partner Jackson turned culprit,
wasting another glorious chance.
Knight made a hash of a high ball and there was the ex-Yeovil
Town star 12 yards out with what looked like a sitter.
However, with only defender Steve Heffer between him and
goal, Jackson inexplicably scuffed his shot the wrong side
of the upright.
Hill added substitute Downer to the defence to shore things
up but his side made things safe with eight minutes left.
Purser escaped down the right flank and sent over an inch
perfect cross for Wheeler to side-foot past Knight from close
range.
Weymouth could have made things even worse for Thurrock with
moments left when Bound touched a free kick to Andy Harris
whose deflected thumping drive was not far away.
Weymouth : Matthews, Tully, Dutton, O'Brien, Bound,
Harris, Clark (Downer 76 mins), Watson (Wheeler 51 mins),
Jackson, Purser, Hutchinson (Taggart 69 mins)
Subs not used : Webb,
Lee-Barratt
Thurrock : Knightk, Goodfellow
(Forbes 45 mins), Collis (Cross 75 mins), Goddard, McFarlane,
Carthy, Bowes, Heffer, Lee, O'Connor, Hodges (Purdie 45 mins)
Subs not used : Harper,
Broom
Bookings :
Weymouth : Tully
Thurrock : Hodges, MacFarlane, Lee
Sent Off :
Weymouth : n/a
Thurrock : n/a
Referee : Paul Hutton
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