Raffa to the rescue
By Nigel Biddlecombe

Monday 11th September 2006

SUBSTITUTE Raphael Nade earned Weymouth a deserved Conference National point after a last-gasp equaliser at Burton Albion.

The striker chose the perfect time to score his first goal of the season at the impressive Pirelli Stadium.

A draw was the least Garry Hill's men deserved having fallen behind to Daryl Clare's ninth minute opener for the Brewers.

But despite being satisfied with a point, there must be concern in the Terras camp over the lack of goals from their out­of-form strikers.

For the first time this season Weymouth manager Hill changed his starting line up, promoting Richard Logan to the side at the expense of Nade.

Terras started strongly when Abdel El Kholti took the ball from goalkeeper Aaron Lee­Barrett's short clearance and fed Lee Elam.

Chukki Eribenne, who was later stretchered off with a head injury, attacked Elam's cross, but Kevin Poole in the home goal was able to claim with ease.

Both sides had chances to open the scoring within the first few minutes as Ryan Austin for the Brewers and Weymouth's Ben Smith both went close.

Nigel Clough's Albion took the lead however, when Darren Stride crossed from the left and El Kholti failed to achieve a strong connection with his attempted headed clearance.

The loose ball fell to Jon Shaw who had plenty of time to play the ball back into the danger area to Clare who turned Ashley Vickers and drove home under the body of Lee-Barrett from close range.

Weymouth had a great oppor­tunity to level the scores in the 21st minute when Smith's brilliant through ball put Simon Weathers tone clear on goal, behind the home defence.

Poole rushed out of his area to hack clear, but saw his kick rebound off of Weatherstone to El Kholti whose first-time cross was headed wide by Eribenne.

Vickers, Elam and El Kholti combined well to force a corner on the left, which Nick Crittenden took.

The Terras midfielder drove his cross towards the far post where Vickers rose unchal­lenged only to see his powerful header fly narrowly past the upright.

The final opening of the first half fell to Burton when a four ­man move down the left touch­line ended with a cross by Aaron Webster.

The visitors were relieved to see Shaw make a complete mess of his final effort.

The second half, in which Weymouth were far more domi­nant but couldn't take their chances, started with Vickers heading Weatherstone's free kick wide and Logan just failing to control from close range.

There was controversy in the 66th minute when Eribenne broke away and was bearing down on goal as Shaw caught him with a dangerously high boot.

There was immediate concern for the Terras' striker who after a long spell of treatment was taken to hospital and replaced by Nade.

Shaw was lucky to escape with a yellow card from the referee, who was poor throughout, for the challenge.

Terras continued to press and grabbed the goal they deserved in the first minute of stoppage time.

Weatherstone's cross-field ball split the home defence to allow Elam the room to run unchallenged towards goal.