Ashley stops the rot
By Nigel Biddlecombe

CAPTAIN for the day Ashley Vickers earned Weymouth a valuable Blue Square Premier point at the Glassworld Stadium.

The towering defender pounced in the 58th minute to level the score at 2-2 to stop a run of three defeats for Jason Tindall's men.

The Terras got off to the worst, possible start though, when they failed to defend a free-kick, taken from the right by Gareth Gwillam.

As the ball was swung into the danger area Matt Langston rose highest and headed the ball on to Nathaniel Knight-Percival who was left with a simple task to put the home side ahead with less than two minutes on the clock.

Before Weymouth got into their stride the home side should have doubled their advantage when Antonio Murray wasted a great opportunity as he steered a cross from Craig Pope wide with the goal at his mercy.

With 14 minutes gone the visitors mounted their first real attack as good interplay by James Coutts and Anton Robinson freed Gavin McCallum.

advertisementThe speedy wide man cut inside only to be brought down a couple of yards outside the box. Jefferson Louis' well hit free kick beat the defensive wall, but Danny Naisbitt was on hand to save superbly, if somewhat drama-tically.

Although Histon produced the occasional dangerous moment it was the Terras who began to dominate and it came as no surprise when - in the 31st minute - a four man moved ended with Louis firing a fierce shot which Naisbitt could only parry.

Anton Robinson was alert to the situation and stepped in to level the score.

Ashley Vickers saw his headed effort from Paulo Vernazza's corner fly just high and Vernazza, himself, fired over the bar before Louis did get the ball into the net: only to be denied by the assistant referee's flag.

Disappointingly the visitors were caught napping immediately after the break when - with less that a minute gone - they failed to deal with a long throw from the left allowing the ball to fall to John Kennedy who drove home.

Six minutes later the home side were unlucky not to add to their lead as a cross from the right flank was met by Knight-Percival whose effort hit the crossbar before being cleared by Vickers.

Once again Weymouth fought their way back into the game when Conal Platt's 58th minute free-kick caused confusion in the home area and was only half cleared to Vickers.

The Terras captain was able to steer the ball through the massed defenders into the net.

Both sides had chances to wrap the points up as the match drew to a close.

Robinson shooting narrowly wide, Naisbitt saving at the second attempt from McCallum and the same player seeing another effort fly narrowly past the post.

Murray hit his free-kick into the Terras defensive wall and was denied another opportunity by a superb tackle from Justin Roberts and Coutts headed a cross from Cliff Akurang out from under his own crossbar.

However, there was no further score, and the injury-hit Terras can be fairly satisfied with the point they gained from a competitive game although there must be a concern over the number of bookings they are racking up, with the total increasing by four at the Glassworld Stadium.