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Trophy blank
By Nigel Biddlecombe
JOHN Hollins' first match in charge of Weymouth gave him plenty
to think about as the Terras bowed out of the FA Trophy with
barely a whimper at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.
During the 90 minutes Wey-mouth managed just two efforts
on target - neither of which seriously tested Lance Cronin
in the home goal - and did not win a single corner.
The game started at a furious pace, but neither side could
find the pass to produce a real opening.
Weymouth battled hard to ensure that there was no repeat
of the first half in January's Blue Square Premier league
visit when they were 3-0 down at half-time.
But there seemed a lack of ideas going forward and it was
15 minutes in before the Stones' defence was called into action.
Michael Malcolm was fouled on the left of the penalty area,
Trevor Challis' free-kick was flicked into the path of Anton
Robinson by Marcus Browning, but Sacha Opinel was on hand
to clear before the Terras' skipper could get a shot in.
Browning's long ball out of defence was gathered by Stuart Beavon
in the 22nd minute and he looked odds on to open the scoring
until Cronin did well to save at his feet.
Jason Matthews saved from Chris McPhee, at the expense of
a corner, when the home side created their first real opport-unity
six minutes later.
Stacy Long took the kick and found McPhee completely free,
but his headed effort cleared the crossbar.
Scott Doe did well to deny McPhee, the orchestrator of much
that Ebbsfleet were creating, with a great covering tackle
while it was McPhee's short free-kick that set Mark Ricketts
clear on the right.
Ricketts fired in a cross but John Akinde at the far post,
blasted his effort into the side-netting.
Beavon had a second chance to get on the score-sheet with
four minutes of the half remaining when he controlled a Challis
free- kick just inside the area.
However, his shot on the turn lacked power and was easily
gathered by Cronin.
Ebbsfleet produced the final action of the half as James
Smith combined with Bostwick to create an opening for Opinel.
He let fly from 15 yards but Matthews dived to his left to
save.
The second half opened with Akinde shooting wide, James Coutts
seeing his effort saved by Cronin and Matthews doing well
to hold on to Akinde's cross-cum-shot.
Doe was on hand to deny Akinde with a fine challenge and
James Smith drove over the bar as the home side sought to
exert themselves on the tie.
And the pressure finally told with the the only goal of the
afternoon when, just after the hour Long fought his way into
the Terras' area holding off two challenges before crossing
into the feet of Neil Barrett.
Matthews beat out the first effort, but the Fleet man reacted
quickest to blast home the rebound from close range.
The introduction of Stuart Douglas - a change that lasted
just 16 minutes before the referee produced a straight red
card following a rash challenge on Moore - and Gavin McCallum
failed to breathe life into the Terras and it was the home
side who finished the strongest.
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