Stewart’s shocker
By Nigel Biddlecombe

TWO errors from goalkeeper Jon Stewart proved costly as Weymouth went down at Moss Lane.

A poor display from the Terras' number one combined with an inept show from the rest of the side led to boss Jason Tindall labelling it the worst performance so far in the Blue Square Premier season.

Tindall made three changes from the team that won at Eastbourne in the FA Cup last week, as Narada Bernard, Conal Platt and Jefferson Louis replaced Gavin McCallum, Callum Hart and James Coutts.

Weymouth mounted the first attack as Nick Crittenden exchanged passes with Louis before hitting his cross into the area, only for keeper Stuart Coburn to intercept.

Warren Peyton's shot was blocked by his own player and cleared before the home side took a seventh minute lead.

Stewart elected to kick clear from the left edge of his area but his clearance fell invitingly to Chris Senior who shot into the unguarded net from 35 yards.

The visitors equalised in the 14th minute when Bernard and Anton Robinson combined to set Stuart Beavon free on the left.

The Terras striker's shot was met by Alty's Ryan Shotton, who deflected the ball past the stranded Coburn for a bizarre own goal.

Gary Scott's free-kick found Peyton in space, but Stewart did well to intercept the lively winger's cross, before the Terras had a goal disallowed in the 32nd minute.

Bernard had worked hard to get clear on the left and put over a cross which Louis headed into the path of Scott Doe.

Doe's shot, from the edge of the area, appeared to have put Weymouth in front until the referee disallowed the effort judging that Louis had fouled his marker as he won the ball.

Coburn did well to turn Louis's shot round a post for a corner when the Terras' front man hit a cracking drive on the turn after good build-up play by Paolo Vernazza and Bernard.

Weymouth got off to the worst possible start in the second period when the home side retook the lead in the 47th minute.

Stewart had saved Senior's effort only to flap at the resultant corner with the ball falling to Senior whose chip was met by a grateful Shotton.

The Terras were on level terms just four minutes later when Doe's throw-in was collected by Bernard. The full-back's cross-field ball was met by Conal Platt who fired home from 20 yards.

Louis, who shot wide from 10 yards, and Joe O'Neill both wasted good chances to add to the scoring before Senior netted his second, and Altrincham's third in the 66th minute.

He found plenty of space inside the box to put the finishing touch to Jake Sedgemoor's cross.

The home side were visibly growing in confidence as the half wore on, while the Terras were looking shell-shocked.

In an effort to change the game Tindall brought his three substitutes on in the 71st minute and switched to a back three, but the visitors were unable to create any clear openings as they strove to salvage a point.

Joel Kitamarike saw a shot deflected for a corner, but there were few other moments to warm the small, but hardy band of travelling Weymouth supporters.

With the home side trying to play out the clock - and the fourth official having had problems coping with the Terras' substitutions - the referee added six minutes to the second half.

But it was Altrincham who looked the more dangerous side as Stewart was forced to back-pedal to grab a cross-cum-shot from Carlos Logan, while Sedgemore drove a free-kick well into the night sky.

The last action saw Beavon collect a clearance and feed Platt on the left, but the Terras' day was summed up as his attempted cross flew harmlessly behind.