Terras sink Shrimps
By Adam Summers

Monday 16th April 2007

STAR striker Stuart Beavon broke his barren run of eight games without a goal as the Terras put on a tremendous team performance to shock play-off hopefuls Morecambe at the Wessex Stadium.

This Nationwide Conference National victory was the Terras’ first since March 24 and it was thoroughly deserved. Beavon headed the hosts in front on 37 minutes but that was wiped out before half-time by Danny Carlton who flicked home from close-range after a corner.

The hosts made several chances throughout the game and seven minutes into the second half they hit the winner from the spot through defender Tony James.

Goalkeeper Jason Matthews returned for Weymouth and replaced Nick Jones, who dropped to the bench. The former Exeter City stopper missed the Terras’ previous two games through a groin injury.

A makeshift defence lined up in front of Matthews with Brian Dutton filling in at centre-back and Nick Crittenden at right-back.

James Coutts came into the midfield while Adam Cottrell began as a substitute. Skipper Trevor Challis and player-coach Roy O’Brien were absent due to injury while Ashley Vickers served the first game of a two-match suspension. Conal Platt, Callum Crawley and Lewis Ironside were the other three names on Weymouth’s bench.

The form of the two sides coming into the clash could not have been more different. Morecambe had netted 13 goals in their previous five games from which they had claimed 13 points. The Terras had lost four of their last five, conceding 17.

The hosts were clearly the underdogs and many of their fans feared the worst at kick-off but after a minute silence for lifelong supporter Harry May, who died the previous day, was impeccably respected, the Terras made a very promising start.

A clever turn and pass by Danny Phillips set up Simon Weatherstone who struck over from 25 yards before Raphael Nade played in Anton Robinson who got closed down in the box when he should have shot first time.

Referee Andrew Turner then fell over visiting player Neil Sorvel in a comical moment but that did not distract the hosts who threatened again on six minutes through Beavon.

The striker ran into the box from the left but he delayed his strike too long and in the end was crowded out by several defenders.

Morecambe were clearly still in the traps and moments later they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Danny Adams blocked off Nade just inside the box.

Turner waved away the appeals much to the disappointment of the home fans.
The visitors finally sprung into life on 10 minutes with Garry Thompson sprinting down the left and crossing for Carlton whose near-post strike was superbly blocked by Matthews.

Phillips was looking very creative and it was his neat link up play with Beavon that created another shooting opportunity for Weatherstone whose low drive was well-struck but comfortably gathered by visiting keeper Steven Drench.

After a slight lull in play, James then had a header saved for the Terras before Thompson, More-cambe’s biggest threat, turned inside from the right and shot wide of Matthews’ near post.

The visitors were beginning to get more into the game and on 27 minutes they nearly took the lead when Weymouth’s defensive frailties at set plays were once again high-lighted.

The Terras rushed out to try and play offside when the free-kick was taken but they did not time it correctly and Wayne Curtis had the freedom to head towards goal only to be denied by Matthews.

Nade was having a fine game and on 37 minutes it was his left-footed cross from the right that presented Beavon with the opening goal, which he headed past Drench from close-range.

It was exactly what Weymouth needed but they were undone just four minutes later from a corner. The hosts seemed to stand off as Bentley and Chris Blackburn

traded headers before Carlton flicked the ball past Matthews from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Terras were now looking shaky and moments later David McNiven nearly put the Shrimps ahead, hitting the outside of a post with a 22-yard free-kick.

Weymouth settled again at the start of the second half and on 51 minutes they won a penalty when Adams tripped Beavon in the box.

Visiting boss Sammy McIlroy was particularly upset with the decision as he thought his side should have had a spot-kick of their own seconds earlier when Carlton went down at the other end.

James, who was the man that tangled with Carlton, stepped up and fired the penalty past Drench to make it 2-1.

The ex-Hereford United skipper then picked up an injury and was replaced by Cottrell before a superb corner routine set up Weatherstone but his 20-yard shot flew wide.

Morecambe began to get more and more frustrated but on the balance of play the Terras deserved their lead. On 71 minutes the Shrimps had a great chance to level when substitute Paul Lloyd flicked the ball through to McNiven but his shot across goal fell wide.

Beavon was replaced by Conal Platt moments later and he nearly got his side a third but his effort, after some more good work by Nade, went over the bar.

Ironside then came on to make his debut in the dying minutes when Platt had a 20-yard drive pushed wide by Drench.

The game finished with Morecambe pressing but Wey-mouth’s defence stood firm to send their fans home happy and reflecting on some great individual performances particularly from Matthews, Dutton, Phillips, Robinson, Nade and Beavon.