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Thomas on Target as Sports give
Terras a scare
by Nigel Biddlecombe
Wednesday 20th July 2005
DEFENDER Bradley Thomas turned goalscoring hero by netting
twice in the Terras friendly win at Westland Sports last night.
The former Peterborough United youngster
was on target either side of the break as Weymouth raced into
a four-goal lead against their Dorset Premier League hosts.
But Garry Hill's side were given a fright
by the Yeovil-based minnows who pulled it back to 4-3 before
Terras winger Darren
Wheeler settled the contest late on.
For an hour Weymouth looked like running riot against Sports
who struggled to keep pace with the Conference South full-timers.
Kirk Jackson gave the Dorset side an early
lead, seizing on a fumble by home keeper Kim Pearce after
trialist Shaun Carey's stinging free kick from 30 yards.
The Terras doubled their advantage on 20
minutes when midfielder Brian Dutton and Jackson combined
to flick on Shaun Wilkinson's cross for Thomas who
made no mistake from close range.
Moments later another inch-perfect Wilkinson
delivery set up another Weymouth goal, with Dutton heading
past Pearce from close range.
Dutton missed a great chance for his second
and the visitors' fourth just before the break, but he ended
a mazy run by firing wide with the goal gaping.
Jackson, Wilkinson, Wheeler also wasted
decent opportunities as Hill's outfit threatened to run up
a cricket score.
The inevitable fourth came just before
the hour when Thomas nodded home from a superb Wheeler cross
from the left.
But things started to go horribly wrong
for Weymouth after that as Sports mounted a spirited comeback.
The Yeovil side reduced the arrears when Steve Rousell capitalised
on slack defending from Ryan Hill, who suffered a torrid night
at the back, to give visiting
keeper Jason Matthews no chance.
Matt Turner made it 4-2 with 16 minutes left, skipping past
Hill before lashing home from the edge of the box.
And things got even worse for young Terra Hill seconds after
the restart when his suicidal pass was gobbled up by the grateful
Turner to lob Matthews for 4-3.
Suddenly worried Weymouth were fearful of a shock defeat
but normal service was resumed with three minutes left.
Wheeler played a neat one-two with Wilkinson who set up the
winger to tuck away from just inside the area and calm the
visitors' nerves.
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