Terras get out of jail
By Echo Reporter

JAKE Hyde and James Coutts breathed new life into Weymouth's survival fight with two late goals that got the Terras out of jail - and the Blue Square Premier drop-zone.

Boss John Hollins was staring at a second depressing defeat in the space of 48 hours with 16 minutes to go as his side trailed to goals from Lee Steele and Darryn Stamp.

That would have moved the Vics to within three points of the Terras, and with a game in hand, but substitute Hyde and Coutts kept them at arms length with two priceless strikes.

Northwich were the better side for long periods, as Weymouth had been at Burton on Sunday night, but, like Hollins' men had done at the Pirelli Stadium, they were made to pay for not taking their chances.

Franklin Anzite paid the price for his penalty miss at Burton as club captain Simon Weatherstone came into the starting line-up with Nick Crittenden returning to the bench after missing Sunday's defeat due to illness.

But Weymouth were on the back foot from the first whistle as Vics, buoyed by a run that had seen them take ten points from their previous four games, piled forward.

Midfielder Paolo Vernazza did not help the Weymouth cause when he limped off in the 20th minute to be replaced by Crittenden.

Dino Maamria's improving side continued to dominate possession but had to wait until the 27th minute for their next chance.

Josh Wilson's free-kick found Stamp in the box and he controlled and volleyed in one movement only for Stephen Henderson to brilliantly tip over.

Steele also wasted a good chance three minutes before the break and in the dying seconds of the half Stuart Beavon registered Weymouth's first effort on goal with a tame shot.

But the home side started the second as they had the first and hit the front on 48 minutes.

Chris Blackburn failed to deal with a long ball forward and Steele seized on the error before racing clear to fire his fourth goal in three games past the advancing Henderson.

That signalled Weymouth's best spell of pressure with Coutts having a shot superbly blocked on the hour by Cortez Belle.

Hollins threw on Michael Malcolm for the tiring Crittenden and Hyde for Kyle Critchell and he was almost rewarded on 72 minutes when Tony Bedeau's goal-bound shot was deflected wide.

But just a minute later all three precious points looked to be staying in Cheshire when on-loan Halifax striker Stamp headed against the woodwork but reacted quickest to bundle in the rebound.

That left the Terras with a mountain to climb but they refused to wave the white flag and were back in the game within a minute.

Anton Robinson found Hyde in the box and the on-loan Swindon substitute chose exactly the right time to open his account for the club with a smart finish to beat Scott Tynan.

The alarm bells started ringing for the hosts as they crawled back into their shell and Weymouth took full advantage 12 minutes from time.

Weatherstone's cross found Coutts in the box and he composed himself before netting his sixth and most important goal of the season.

The Terras went in search of a winner with Malcolm heading straight at Tynan but they were grateful for the one that never looked likely 16 minutes from time.