Coutts a super-sub
By Nigel Biddlecombe

Wednesdday 7th March 2007

SUBSTITUTE James Coutts was the hero for the Terras as they finally captured their first win of 2007 with a fantastic second-half performance at play-off hopefuls Gravesend.

The victory was particularly sweet for player-manager Jason Tindall and his assistant Roy O’Brien. Both men are doing a fantastic job steadying the ship at the Wessex Stadium and now they have tasted success for the first time there is no doubt that they are hungry for more.

The Terras, who are still in the midst of a financial crisis, went behind to a strike by Luke Moore. But in the second half they upped their game and thanks to a brace by Coutts and a late penalty by Tony James they became only the fourth team to come away from Stonebridge Road this season with three points.

Coutts and Brian Dutton were both relegated to the substitutes’ bench as Tindall brought in Scott Dixon and Raphael Nade, and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation but it was Gravesend who made the better start.

Moore had the game’s opening chance when his snap-shot fell well wide but Weymouth more than held their own. Former Terra Charlie MacDonald was a constant threat for Fleet but visiting defenders Trevor Challis and Tony James marshalled him well.

Mark De Bolla fired wide of the far-post on 13 minutes before the Terras fashioned their first opportunity at the other end with a strike by Danny Phillips which was comfortably gathered by home stopper Lance Cronin.

Jason Matthews has been in fine form between the posts for the Terras recently and on 21 minutes he came to the rescue again, tipping over after some fine interplay from Danny Slatter, Rob Quinn and DeBolla.

Weymouth suddenly began to look nervous and when MacDonald dispossessed Dixon on 24 minutes the hosts should have took the lead. The talented forward fired the ball across the six-yard box but Moore somehow endeavoured to knee it wide despite being faced with a clear sight of goal.

The visitors were now giving the ball away far too cheaply and it was not long before they had another lucky escape with Matthews saving well from a header by DeBolla.

A goal was on the cards and on 34 minutes it finally arrived. MacDonald turned James and crossed with the outside of his right boot for Moore to nod into the net.

It was exactly what the hosts deserved and just prior to half-time they went close again with De Bolla and MacDonald both being denied in quick succession by excellent stops by Matthews.

The introduction of Dutton and Coutts at the interval saw the Terras change to a 3-5-2 formation. Dixon and Phillips, who suffered an ankle injury, were the men to depart.

The switch seemed to put more life into the visitors and they soon went in search for an equaliser. It came when Nade robbed Mark Ricketts and set Ishmael Welsh on his way. The Yeovil Town loanee’s cross deflected off the head of a defender and fell nicely into the path of Coutts who made no mistake.

Just prior to the goal Matthews had made another fine stop to deny DeBolla and he was in action again soon after, diving at the feet of MacDonald.

In the 63rd minute the Terras took the lead when Dutton and James combined to set Welsh free on the left. His pass inside found Coutts and he neatly rounded the keeper before finding the net.

Gravesend were shell-shocked but they kept coming forward. Matthews made several more stops to deny MacDonald, DeBolla and Onome Sodje before the visitors wrapped the game up with two minutes to go.

Striker Stuart Beavon worked his way into the box and was upended by Sacha Opinel and that allowed James to step up and slam the resulting spot-kick past Cronin.