Easter bonanza
By Adam Summers

FORMER Weymouth defender Steve Tully conceded a penalty and was sent off for Exeter as the Terras produced a remarkable performance to take all three points at the Wessex Stadium yesterday.

The hosts took the lead through Chris Blackburn but the main turning point came in a mad two minutes in the second half when Matt Taylor levelled for City before Tully brought down Michael Malcolm just 60 seconds later.

The full-back was dismissed for a professional foul and up stepped Terras' skipper Simon Weather-stone who planted the ball into the net at the second attempt after his initial spot-kick was saved by Andy Marriott.

Malcolm went on to wrap up the victory with a fabulous third late on, to send the Weymouth fans away full of optimism about the remainder of the campaign.

Terras' boss John Hollins' hand was forced in terms of team selection due to injuries to Trevor Challis, Marcus Browning, Paolo Vernazza, Stuart Beavon and Jake Hyde.

Crewe Alexandra loanee Matthew Bailey began his home debut at centre back alongside Blackburn, while Scott Doe and Kyle Critchell occupied the full back slots. Malcolm partnered Tony Bedeau up front. On the bench, keeper Jon Stewart, Stuart Douglas and youngster Jamie Frampton were all included alongside Franklin Anzite and Justyn Roberts.

City were certainly looking the more threatening side and on eight minutes former Yeovil Town striker Adam Stansfield foxed Blackburn with a quick turn in the box but his low driven cross was superbly cleared by Bailey.

Stansfield's clever movement was clearly causing the Weymouth centre backs some early problems and moments later he dropped off and produced a superb flick on to put former Terra Richard Logan in but his strike partner failed to connect as Henderson rushed out and gathered.

Logan then committed a late challenge on Doe and received the first booking of the game on 20 minutes before Nick Crittenden caught Dean Moxey in possession in the middle of the pitch and nicked the ball through to Bedeau.

The Torquay United loanee raced through and shot across Marriott but his effort fell narrowly wide of the far post.

That lifted the home fans and for the next ten minutes Weymouth began to get tighter to their opponents, upsetting their rhythm and forcing them into mistakes.

Crittenden tried his luck from distance and found the gloves of Marriott before Weatherstone attempted to catch the City keeper off his line with a half volley that dropped over the bar as the Terras began to show more in the final third.

Anton Robinson was then fouled on 35 minutes by Moxey and from the resulting free-kick Weather-stone curled in a low cross that Blackburn superbly volleyed past Marriott and into the corner of the net with his right boot.

During the celebrations Malcolm claimed that he had got the decisive touch but either way the Terras were ahead.

Weymouth continued to starve Exeter of space at the start of the second half and on 51 minutes they created another chance to double their lead when Weatherstone fed Malcolm on the edge of the box.

The speedy striker took aim but failed to make a true connection with his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly wide.

Stansfield, who suffered a blow on the foot at the beginning of the half, was replaced by Ben Watson on 55 minutes as City began to build a bit of pressure but some superb blocks continued to keep them at bay. However, on 62 minutes, the Devon side finally broke through.

A corner from the left was only half cleared as far as Taylor who hammered a sweet strike through a crowd of players and in off the bar.

Exeter now seemed to have the ascendancy but 60 seconds later they fell asleep and allowed Malcolm to get in behind their defence. Tully tried to recover but clipped the forward's heels and was justifiably dismissed, and after Marriott had guessed right to save Weatherstone's spot-kick the ball fell kindly back to the midfielder who tucked in the rebound.

City responded positively to that huge setback and on 77 minutes Watson went close with a fantastic drive from 25 yards that just missed the target.

Exeter continued to push men forward but on 86 minutes they got caught short at the back when substitute Anzite lifted the ball over the top to put Malcolm through.

This time the striker took his time before cutting inside his marker and curling a shot into the far corner of the net from 17 yards.

The home fans were now in full voice and moments later they nearly had a fourth when Malcolm put Robinson in but his side-footer went wide. City then replied with an effort from Watson that was well saved by Henderson before the referee finally brought the game to an end much to the delight of everyone in claret and blue.