Hill's gamble pays dividends
By Matt Pitman

Monday 14th November 2005

BOSS Garry Hill's selection gamble paid off as Weymouth came up trumps against inform Welling United.

The Terras made it 13 games unbeaten despite manager Hill resting five key players ahead of tonight's FA Cup replay with Nottingham Forest.

Midfielder Brian Dutton and new signing Danny Shipp were on target to ground the high-flying Wings at the Wessex Stadium.

The Conference South victory fires Weymouth, who have at least a couple of games in hand on the league's pace-setters, up to fifth in the table.

This success was all the more impressive given the hosts were without the services of rested regulars Kirk Jackson, Steve Tully, Chukki Eribenne, Shaun Wilkinson and Steve Clark.

They are all likely to be back to face Forest tonight in front of the Sky Sports cameras and the Coca Cola League One giants can't be relishing the prospect.

Weymouth have won 12 of 13 matches at Radipole Lane under Hill - a sequence stretching back to March 19 this year.

That is some record, no matter what level of football, and with 6,000 home fans roaring the non-Leaguers on, Forest could certainly be added to-that impressive list.

Welling saw their own good run ended by the seaside at the weekend - Adrian Pennock's team were yet to taste defeat on their travels in the league this season.

Weymouth took a while to spark into life in what was, in truth, a scrappy contest littered by a total of 36 free kicks.

The Kent visitors, themselves missing key players including top scorer Danny Kedwell, settled quicker during a drab first half.

While Welling looked lively going forward with Matt Carruthers' set-pieces particularly dangerous, chances were at a premium.

Any thoughts the hosts might have half an eye on tonight's big cup tie and take things a little easy were soon dismissed.

Both Andy Harris, one of only two ever-present Terras this season, and Trevor Challis went flying into bone crunching challenges within minutes of the kick-off.

The other regular, Matt Bound, then nearly set-up Matt Bodkin with a weak back-header but Roy O'Brien blocked to rescue his side.

Hill's full-timers were struggling to make any real headway, although wingers Lee Elam and the recalled Darren Wheeler both looked lively.

Debutant Shipp, previously with Hill at Dagenham and Redbridge and Hornchurch, tamely headed well wide as the half-time whistle grew nearer.

It took 41 minutes for either side to muster a serious shot on target - and when it finally arrived Weymouth took the lead.

Harris swung over an inch-perfect corner from the left and there was Dutton, who had been booked seconds earlier despite appearing to be the victim, to crash his header home.

The Terras, for whom Simon Downer impressed at right back, seemed set to go into the break ahead but they had a mighty let-off in stoppage time.

Another dangerous Carruthers' delivery, this time a right-wing corner, found captain Chris Moore at the far post.

The defender appeared to do everything right with his header but watched in agony as the ball trickled across the goalmouth and out of play.

As lacklustre as the first half was, the second period provided top notch entertainment.

Straight from the restart Weymouth increased the tempo and a couple of early corners signalled their intentions.

Some outrageous trickery by Elam led to a good opening on 54 minutes as Craig O'Connor set up Shipp whose effort was blocked by, keeper Jamie Turner.

Seconds later it was turn of Elam's colleague Wheeler on the opposite flank to deservedly take the plaudits after creating his side's second goal from virtually nothing.

Wheeler picked up possession on the left flank just inside Welling's half.

With at least three Wings players surrounding him, the flying winger brilliantly accelerated away to force his way into the visitors' area.

Wheeler was crudely dragged back by defender Rob Owen, but the ball broke kindly to Shipp who coolly tucked away.

Two goals to the good, Weymouth continued to boss possession and went into cruise control.

O'Connor nearly grabbed his second in two games since his move from Thurrock when Turner made a hash of his long range drive.

But Pennock's charges were not giving up that easily and determined Welling nearly pulled one back on 68 minutes.

Carruthers' ball into the box caused confusion in the home defence from which Che Stadhart could only hit the post from six yards out.

Welling did find the net though four minutes later when substitute Daniel Moore sent the excellent Carruthers away down the right who ran on and slotted past Matthews.

The goal rocked Weymouth who, apart from Harris' 25-yard drive which went well wide, were forced to defend for the rest of the contest.

It was all United in the closing stages as Stadhart was foiled by a brave save by Matthews following Moore's floated cross.

The visitors hopes of nicking a point were dealt a severe blow with six minutes left when they were reduced to ten men.

Full-back Lee, who had already been booked, tugged at Terras substitute Tony Taggart, leaving referee James Evamy little option but to show the red card.

Hill gave striker Kirk Jackson a late run out but home fans were becoming increasingly nervous as the visitors' pressure mounted.

The hosts were given another scare in stoppage time when Bound did well to block Bodkin's powerful drive before Matthews was forced to turn away the same player's cross from right under his bar.

But Weymouth hung on to clinch another crucial three points to keep them hot on the heels of the league leaders.