Rangers punish sloppy Terras
By Adam Summers

Monday 12th February 2007

EVERYTHING that could have gone against the Terras did on Saturday, but at the end they could only blame themselves for the two soft goals they conceded that cost them the game.

Defenders Trevor Challis and Narada Bernard both limped off with injuries for the hosts but it was the refereeing performance of Andrew Rodda and in particular his first-half decision not to send off Stafford keeper Danny Alcock that
was the main talking point at the final whistle.

The Exeter-based official, who booked eight players, puzzled everyone at the Wessex Stadium after the visiting stopper tripped Stuart Beavon in the box. The man in black correctly pointed to the spot but only cautioned Alcock despite the fact he was the last man and had clearly stopped a goal-scoring opportunity.

Weymouth player-manager Jason Tindall converted the spot-kick to make it 1-1 but just four minutes later an error by Nick Crittenden allowed David McNiven to regain his side's lead which they hung on to in the second half.

Prior to that Levi Reid had got Rangers' opener with a swirling shot from 30 yards that found the net after a misjudgement by Terras' keeper Jason Matthews.

However, it was not all doom and gloom for the Terras. Although they lost, they were by far the superior side in the first half when their passing game outwitted their opponents for long periods.

There were some encouraging performances especially from youngsters James Coutts, Scott Dixon and Callum Ross-Jennins. The latter two came on as second-half substitutes.

Weymouth made one change to their starting line up with Ashley Vickers replacing the injured Tony James, who was sidelined with a bruised knee.

With Raphael Nade still out, Tindall played alongside Beavon up front while his assistant Roy O'Brien began on the bench.

Stafford enjoyed a bright start in the opening few minutes but Weymouth soon stamped their authority on the game with some neat interplay on what was a heavy pitch.

Rangers tried to outmuscle the home side but their slick moves soon gave them chances. The first fell to Simon Weatherstone who had an 18-yard drive blocked after Beavon had laid the ball off to him from a cross by Coutts.

Weatherstone was then booked for taking a free-kick too quickly much to the annoyance of the home fans. Rodda then failed to take action when Guy Madjo committed a rash challenge on Crittenden down on the touch-line. Had the ex-Chelsea man not jumped away he would have been seriously hurt.

Weatherstone had a shot from 20 yards superbly saved by Alcock before another break down the right by Coutts set up Tindall. The ex-AFC Bournemouth man made a good connection with his shot but it flew wide.

Apart from a shot by Madjo that Matthews pushed away at his near post on 20 minutes the Terras had looked comfortable and in control but on 25 minutes they conceded.

O'Brien, who had replaced Challis on 14 minutes, only half cleared and that allowed Reid to fire a speculative effort towards goal from 30 yards. Matthews looked to have it covered but the swirling shot unbalanced him and in the end the ball deflected off his left leg and flew into the top corner of the net.

The goal had clearly come against the run of play but to their credit Weymouth immediately went in search for an equaliser.

Beavon curled a free-kick over the bar and Dutton went close from a corner before Beavon snapped upon a poor back pass by Anthony Griffith on 41 minutes. The ex-Didcot Town striker went to go around Alcock but the stopper tripped him for a certain penalty.

With no substitute keeper on the bench Stafford feared the worst but Rodda stunned everyone by only showing Alcock a yellow card. Tindall converted the spot-kick with ease.

It was a goal that the 'Perras thoroughly deserved but four minutes later they let their good work go to waste. A long, hopeful cross from the right was not dealt with by Crittenden and when the ball came off his stomach and fell to McNiven there was only going to be outcome as he shot past the onrushing Matthews.

A huge downpour greeted the second half and the heavy pitch soon began to take its toll on both sides. Gaps started to appear all over the pitch but it was the visitors who fashioned the chances. Bernard made a fine last-ditch tackle in the area to deny Madjo a clear shot on goal before he then played a poor pass across his box that let McNiven in. The debutant striker went one-on-one with Matthews but his shot fell agonisingly wide of the far post.

Bernard then limped off and was replaced by ex-Portland United youngster Dixon. The 19-year-old could have easily been fazed by the occasion but instead he showed tremendous confidence on the ball throughout and made a great block to deny McNiven.

Another former Blues' player Ross-Jennins also came on in the later stages as the Terras tried to fashion an equaliser but it never came.