Wessex wonders
By Matt Pitman

Monday 21st August 2006

WEYMOUTH may be in Conference National, but they still possess the Wessex Stadium magic.

Terras extended their superb home league form under boss Garry Hill to return to the top of the league table.

Goals from Chukki Eribenne and captain Ben Smith either side of the interval extended the hosts' 100 percent start to the season.

However, just like their previ­ous outing against Aldershot Town, Terras needed a resolute and spirited defensive display to survive a late Cambridge onslaught.

But on another happy afternoon for Hill and his men, one major disappointment for the Terras was the size of the Wessex Stadium crowd.

Only 1,766 supporters turned out to greet the league leaders, down from 3,583 against Aldershot four days earlier, to the fury of chairman Martyn Harrison.

But the numbers through the gate will surely rise especially if Weymouth are challenging for promotion to the Football League later this season..

On a happier note, the fact boss Hill has seen his side win their opening trio of fixtures despite having a host of players missing injured bodes well.

One of his summer signings, Ashley Vickers, was expected by many to be a bit-part player this season, but the towering defender has emerged as a key man in the early performances.

Again the ex-Dagenham and Redbridge star was a rock in the Terras rearguard as Cambridge battled to claim a point.

The goal-shy visitors could have broken their season duck early on when midfielder David Bridge's lob was heading in until home defender Simon Downer nipped back to clear.

Terras soon settled though with Steve Tully nearly catch­ing visiting keeper Paul Crichton unaware with a cheeky cross-cum-shot.

Weymouth continued to press and were a whisker away from taking the lead on 15 minutes.

Visiting keeper Paul Crichton pulled off a stunning save with his shin to deny Nade what looked a certain goal from point blank range.

Moments later Weymouth were breathing a sigh of relief when Courtney Pitt beat Downer and keeper Lee-Barrett to a high ball and looked to have the relatively simply job of tap­ping into an empty net.

But fortunately for the hosts, the ball seemed to bounce up just as Pitt was about to pull the trigger, allowing Tully to save the day with a superb clearance.

The relentless Terras contin­ued to dominate and were rewarded with a deserved opener on 25 minutes.

The dominant pair of Vickers and Downer won back possession on half-way and fed Nade on the edge of the visitors' area.

The striker found Eribenne who forced his way past a cou­ple of United defenders and planted a well-struck left-foot shot past the lifeless Crichton.

Lee Elam came close to ending the half in style for Weymouth when he was picked out by Smith but dragged his shot well wide.

Eager to force a way back into the contest, the visitors opened the second period sharply with plenty of possession.

Weymouth were looking nervy and needed a second goal to calm the nerves which duly arrived on 58 minutes.

Nade, Nick Crittenden and Simon Weatherstone were all involved in the build-up which led to Smith shimmying and lashing home from 20 yards.

Two goals, three points, job done. Or so it seemed.

Just two minutes later, Cambridge hauled themselves back into it when Brady was allowed room to cross from the right for striker Robbie Simpson to rise above Downer and head into Lee-Barrett's net.

The contest should have been settled when Nade shrugged off Morrison but wrapped his drive against Crichton's bar.

After that, it was all Cambridge who threw on sub­stitute Michael Gash to boost their attacking options.

Pitt nearly wriggled his way through for an equaliser before Gash set up Josh Simpson whose close range shot was blocked by Lee-Barrett.

But the Terras, aided through some brave and desperate defending at times, hung on to return to the Conference summit.