Diamond raid
By Ky Capel

FORMER Terras boss Garry Hill performed a smash and grab return to the Wessex Stadium last night with a 2-1 win.

Some poor marking in the Wey-mouth penalty area allowed Simeon Jackson to put Rushden ahead before Jefferson Louis scored his fifth goal in five to level proceedings.

But, against the run of play, Hill's side grabbed all three points thanks to substitute Michael Malcolm's 82nd minute header.

Just before kick-off managers Jason Tindall and Garry Hill shared an embrace while the home faithful showed their appreciation for their former chief, and his assistant Kevin Hales, with a round of applause.

And the first real action of a somewhat heated first half saw a yellow card for Justin Roberts immediately followed by the opening goal.

Simon Rusk played a one-two with Curtis Osanu from the resulting free-kick, and on the return Rusk delivered a ball into the Weymouth box.

The Terras took a while to get out of first gear, but the home crowd did their utmost to spur the lads on after Tindall's rallying call ahead of the clash.

In the midst of both sides fighting for control of the game, further bookings were dished out by referee Mike Mullarkey to Diamonds' trio Gulliver, skipper Wayne Hatswell, and Jon Challinor, while Marcus Browning found himself in the book after a challenge on Challinor.

Hatswell was lucky not to have seen red after he appeared to kick out at Stuart Beavon.

Jackson went close to adding a second just before the half-hour when he turned his marker to unleash a right- foot curler which Jon Stewart, making his competitive debut for the Terras, turned around the post.

But it was the hosts who got the next goal as Jefferson Louis scored with a superb overhead kick to bring his side back on level terms.

Anton Robinson, the only Terra to have played every minute of their 10 games so far, tricked his way down the left before delivering a cross into the area. The ball took a slight deflection, but Louis kept his eye on it and improvised brilliantly to leave Bastock motionless in the Rushden net.

The home side were in the ascendancy and went close with further efforts from Weatherstone, Platt and Louis before the break.

And the Wessex outfit continued their dominance after the interval. Robinson hit a fierce drive just wide of goal, while a last ditch tackle from Hatswell denied Beavon a clear shot at Bastock.

Jackson did threaten once more for Hill's side on 66 minutes but he shot over after finding space on the edge of the Terras' box.

Then an instinctive shot from Beavon eight minutes later brought a good save from the Diamonds stopper, who was forced to tip over his bar.

And it was Bastock's woodwork that came to rescue moments later as Louis crashed a header against the bar after good work from Nick Crittenden down the right.

Weymouth were in control but quickly reminded of the threat Rushden posed as Malcolm, who replaced Jackson, almost scored with practically his first touch.

The striker found himself in a great position. But luckily for Tindall's side Joel Kitamirike was on hand to prevent Rushden scoring with a goal-line clearance after Malcolm had poked the ball past the oncoming Stewart.

Seconds later the visitors had a goal ruled out for a foul on the Terras' keeper by Challinor. And the away side's small spell of pressure paid off as Malcolm capitalised on more defensive frailties to head into a virtually empty net. It was almost a carbon copy of the first with a cross into the box knocked down for an unmarked striker to pounce.

Weymouth huffed and puffed but couldn't find a last gasp equaliser. Louis came closest, almost scoring two but he hit thin air after substitute Ashley Vickers headed down, before unleashing a low drive from outside the box which was only a whisker away from finding the inside of the post.