Simon's scorcher
By Matt Pitman

Monday 18th September 2006

TERRAS fans have a newchant these days.

`One nil to the Weymouth' is fast becoming a favourite on the Wessex Stadium terraces thanks to Garry Hill's men scrooge-like defence.

For the second successive home game, the opposition failed to breach the determined rearguard of Weymouth who are now third in Conference National.

Star man this time out was goalkeeper Aaron Lee-Barrett who pulled off a string of second half saves to deny unlucky Halifax Town a point.

The 22-year-old has been on the wrong end of harsh criti-cism from some quarters of the Terras support this season.

But it's four clean-sheets in nine games now for the England non-League international with Lee-Barrett's latest performance probably the best.

Three times the former Cardiff City youngster denied Shaymen substitute Chris
Senior a second half equaliser, also making a terrific stop from Andy Campbell's effort.

In the end Simon Weather-stone's second minute low free kick from 25-yards proved the difference in another physical battle for the hosts.

In the first ever meeting between the sides, the Terras enjoyed a perfect start after just two minutes.

Collided

Halifax's Martin Foster tripped Ben Smith 25 yards out and up stepped Weatherstone to drill the resulting free kick under the visitors' wall and into the net.

The returning Chukki Eribenne, back after swallowing his tongue at Burton the previous Saturday, was in the wars again on 13 minutes when he collided with keeper Craig Mawson trying to win a 50-50 in the Halifax area.

For a split second the home crowd held their breath as the striker collapsed to the turf, but after a spell of treatment he was soon on his feet again.

Midfielder Ben Smith nearly added a second for Weymouth when his shot was gathered by Mawson who sprinted from his goal to block Eribenne's effort.

Halifax - who conceded three foul throws in the opening half hour - showed no sign of their second half attacking intentions early on although Jake Wright did go close from range.

Weymouth - already missing the crocked Ashley Vickers, Shaun Wilkinson and Richard Logan - suffered another injury blow midway through the half, losing Nick Crittenden to a knock.

His replacement Dean Howell showed glimpses of his pace and sprinted down the left to set up a chance for Lee Elam as the interval approached.

Halifax striker Ryan Sugden sent a curler well wide before visiting boss Chris Wilder shook things up replacing right back Mark Roberts with substitute striker Andy Campbell.

The move improved things for the Shaymen who soon enjoyed much more possession.

After the break it took a good defensive header from Gus Uhlenbeek to deny the lurking Nade from Elam's cross

The former Ipswich player then popped up at the other end to whip in a great ball that the excellent Downer, who limped off moments later, did well to turn behind.

Danny Forrest ended a free-flowing counter featuring a nice dummy by Tyrone Thompson, with a drive blocked by Terras full back Abdou El Kholti.

Both keepers then pulled off smart saves at either end. Terras number one Lee-Barrett blocked to keep out Campbell after the speedy ex-Middlesborough star left last man Jason Tindall for dead. Seconds later, Nade burst through at the other end only

for Mawson to smother and deny Weymouth a second. Halifax were threatening an equaliser by now but could not make the most of their possession.

A poor Steve Tully back-pass nearly let in the alert Campbell as the hosts were becoming increasingly edgy.

With Weymouth's defence all at sea, Shaymen substitue Chris Senior had three golden opportunities to draw his side level late on.

The substitute had a low drive turned away by Lee-Barrett, before he failed to take advantage of a spooned clearance by Tindall.

Then with time running out, Lee-Barrett saved well from Campbell's close range effort and in the resulting scramble Tony James had to bravely dive to block Senior's rebound.

On the rare occasion, Weymouth did break out from defence it was defender Steve Tully who nearly sealed the points, his 30-yard screamer tipped over by Mawson.