Moore misery for the Terras
By Nigel Biddlecombe

Monday 27th March 2006

CHRIS Moore's first half strike knocked faltering Weymouth off the top of the Conference South table.

The Welling United skipper seized upon a poor punch by Terras keeper Jason Matthews to fire the only goal of the game at Park View Road.

With title rivals St Albans City easily overcoming bottom markers Maidenhead United, Garry Hill's side now trail the Hertfordshire club by virtue of goal difference.

And having not won for the past three outings, Weymouth need to bounce back to winning ways quickly to prevent them facing the end-of-season play-offs.

Boss Hill made two changes to his starting line-up, but the end product remained the same as the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession without any end product.

Defender Trevor Challis was ruled out injured and was replaced at left back by Roy O'Brien, with Simon Downer slotting in alongside captain Matt Bound.

The other change saw Shaun Wilkinson in for Lee Elam who dropped to the bench.

Welling had the best of the opening exchanges with Steve Perkins placing a good opportunity well wide in the sixth minute.

However, the Terras replied when Steve Tully found Ben Smith who exchanged passes 'with Raphael Nade only to see his shot saved by Wings keeper Jamie Turner.

At the other end, visiting keeper Matthews saved from onetime Terras target Danny Kedwell.

Welling stunned the league leaders by going in front on 14 minutes.

Roy O'Brien was harshly adjudged to have fouled Jamie Day 35-yards from goal after which the same player swung
over the dangerous resulting free kick into the Terras area.

Matthews, under pressure, failed to get a solid connection with his punch and the ball fell at the feet of Moore who fired home from close range.

Weymouth reacted well from the setback as Smith was just wide with a snap shot, Andy Harris's 25'yard blockbuster was well saved by Turner and Wilkinson was also frustrated by the home gloveman.

Former Havant star Wilkinson rescued his side moments later, clearing off the line to deny Steve Perkins's close range effort,

Despite creating chances, the visitors were unable to capitalise on them as Wilkinson fired over the top, then Nade was inches away from converting Harris's free kick.

The last action of the first period saw Welling defender Lee Gledhill's free kick cleared to Adrian Clarke whose shot flew just wide of Matthews's left hand post.

Heavy rain greeted the teams as they took the field for the second half, making conditions difficult.

Welling created the first opening when Day disposed O'Brien and fed Kedwell, but the home striker put his effort well over the crossbar.

Weymouth began to dominate the game after this early scare, but were unable to find a deserved equaliser.

On 53 minutes Downer's 40-yard crossfield ball just evaded the efforts of WiIkinson and three minutes later another free kick from Harris flew over the cross bar.

Hill introduced Elam for Steve Clark in a bid to find a way back and the substitute immediately pepped up the Terras attack.

After John Guest was penalised for handball, Weymouth skipper Bound thumped a free kick goalwards only for Turner to save low to his right.

The visitors, enjoying the better of things in midfield, continued to power forward, but efforts from Downer, Harris and Bound all fell safely into Turner's grasp.
Welling nearly sealed the points when on a rare attacking raid, O'Brien was forced into a lastditch clearance to deny Matt Bodkin.

Then Kedwell sprung Weymouth's offside trap, only for his effort to be brilliantly saved by Matthews.

Desperately seeking an equaliser, Hill went all out for a goal, throwing on substitute Chukki Eribenne and moving Bound up front.

Even keeper Matthews joined the attack in stoppage time as Terras forced a corner.

John McGrath's cross was only half-cleared to Smith but the midfielder, not the first time in the game, blazed his shot over the bar.