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Terras quick off the mark
By Nigel Biddlecoombe
Monday 14th August 2006
The Terras marked their return to the Conference National
with a superb win at Tamworth.
After 17 years away from non League's top flight, Weymouth
chalked up their first well deserved points of the new
season after a comprehensive display at the Lamb.
Garry Hill's visitors sent the huge travelling army of fans
into raptures by out-playing the shell shocked hosts
in every department.
After suffering so many pre-season injuries, Weymouth
feared the worst when they lost Roy O'Brien to
the treatment table in the warm up.
The defender had to be stretchered off and taken to hospital
for x-rays after suffering a nasty-looking ankle injury.
With Steve Tully promoted from the substitutes bench and
Ashley Vickers moving to central defence,
Terras recovered well and took only ten seconds to take the
lead.
Raphael Nade seized on a high ball to send Ben Smith away
and the midfielder coolly lobbed home keeper Sean Bowles
to find the net.
Nade went close a few moments later after Smith, Nick Crittenden
and new signing Abdou El Kholti had worked an opening on the
left flank.
Nade's pace was causing the home defence problems and he
was unlucky not to connect with Simon Weatherstone's lOth
minute cross.
Weymouth increased their lead moments later when Crittenden
put Nade free in space and the on-loan striker caused confusion
between keeper Bowles and defender Matt Redmile, forcing a
corner.
El Kholti's flag-kick was met by defender Vickers whose powerful
header flew into the net.
Weymouth were dominating the match with Smith and Crittenden
bossing the midfield, while the defence had little trouble
in containing an unimaginative home forward line.
Tamworth's first real chance fell to ex-Terra John McGrath
in the 25th minute, but he pulled his effort well wide of
Lee-Barrett's goal.
The Weymouth goalkeeper had to react sharply a minute
later in coming off of his line to clear from the advancing
Gary Birch.
It was the Terras who ended the first half well in control
with Elam, Vickers and Chukki Eribenne all having chances
to increase the lead.
The second half started with Lee Moore failing to take advantage
of a mix up between El Kholti and Lee- Barrett before Kyle
Storer was guilty of rushing his shot and firing well
wide.
This was the wake up call Weymouth needed and they began
to re-exert their control over the home side again.
The visitors looked to have secured the points on 53 minutes
when Crittenden, who was fouled down the right by Graham Ward,
swung a deep cross into the penalty area and there was Downer
who rose high at the far post to head home.
The impressive Smith nearly added a fourth after good work
by Elam and the hard-working El Kholti.
Tamworth's frustration came to the fore in a two-minute spell
as Matt Williams and Dave Bampton both found their way into
the referee's notebook.
Adie Smith wasted the hosts best opportunity of the half
when he shot well wide in the 68th minute.
Tamworth did begin to create more in the last 15 minutes
with both Bampton and McGrath wasting opportunities.
Mark Cooper's side grabbed a late consolation with five minutes
left when Vickers failed to find the advancing Lee-Barrett
with a back pass, leaving Williams to score a consolation
goal into an empty net.
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