Vics hit back to deny Terras
By Matt McGeehan

Monday 29th January 2007

WEYMOUTH lost the opportunity to start the new era afresh with a home win as Northwich Victoria scored with nine minutes remaining in the Nationwide Confer­ence.

The Terras had the better of the opening stages and missed a penalty through Richard Logan on the hour, but Northwich were always a threat with their direct style of play and Jonny Allan pounced to equalise after Stuart Beavon had scored on his home debut.

Ashley Vickers was dismissed eight minutes from time for an innocuous challenge on the Northwich goals corer, which resulted in the latter breaking his leg .

Both players looked to win the ball on the halfway line, but Allan felt the full weight of the Weymouth central defender and his legs buckled under the pressure.

The tackle infuriated tile Victoria bench and, having ini­tially awarded a free-kick to the Terras, the referee, after consultation with his assistant and a three-minute delay in proceedings, showed Vickers a second yellow card and reversed his decision.

After the tumultuous events off the field in recent weeks, the Terras' were rocked by the loss of Chukki Eribenne with a head injury after 13 minutes, but Eribenne's replacement Beavon showed promise for the future.

The new signing from Didcot Town put in a fine display on his home debut culminating in his first goal for the club.

Narada Bernard, the left­sided defender signed from Rushden & Diamonds on Friday, was thrust straight into the starting line up in place of Trevor Challis, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Brian Dutton, who returned to Weymouth last week, started in central midfield with Richard Logan pushing up front in place of Raphael Nade (ankle).

Vickers took Roy O'Brien's place in the heart of the defence as well as the captain's arm­band to complete the changes from the side which began the 4-0 defeat at Exeter City.

The Terras had opportunities to score early on. After two min­utes Northwich half-cleared a Dean Howell free kick to Nick Crittenden. His cross was met by Eribenne eight yards out but the striker could not direct his header on target.

Three minutes later Crittenden's in-swinging corner was met by Dutton at the far post but he could only glance his header wide.

Northwich then came close with Allan forcing a save out of Jason Matthews after Stuart Elliott thumped a hopeful long
-ball through the centre.

Eribenne chased a flick on from. Logan after a clearance from Terras' goalkeeper Jason' Matthews and was through on goal before being clattered just outside the box by Victoria defender Kieran Charnock.

The referee failed to award a' free-kick when many would have sent Charnock off for being the last defender and preventing a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Simon Weatherstone had a chance after Northwich failed to scramble a Howell corner away; but his half volley could not find its way through a pack of bodies.

Elliott shot wide for the visitors before Vickers got on the end of a Crittenden free-kick. The central defender got under the ball and headed over.

Vickers was then booked for a similar challenge to the one which saw Eribenne injured as the half ended goalless.

Weymouth were awarded a fortunate penalty after 60 minutes when Northwich substi­tute Gareth Griffiths fell on the ball and handled.

Logan fired wide but in the next attack Beavon scored.

The striker clipped the ball through the legs of the advancing Connett after a Dutton flick­on from Matthews' long ball.

Eight minutes later James Coutts chipped into the striker. Beavon made space for himself with a controlled chest down before firing a vicious shot at the near post, but Connett was equal to it.

Paul Brayson could have equalised 17 minutes from time but failed to capitalise on indecision in the Terras' defence but Victoria then did level.

Michael Carr's cross was nodded down by Griffiths into the path of an unmarked Allan who hit a clinical finish beyond Matthews.

Both teams finished with ten men following the challenge between Vickers and Allan as Northwich had already used three subsititutes.