|
New Year nightmare
By Adam Summers
WEYMOUTH'S rollercoaster season suffered its most alarming
dip to date at the Wessex Stadium yesterday where an amazing
second-half capitulation saw their winless home streak stretched
to five games.
A bumper New Year's Day crowd of 2,002 watched in horror
as a mediocre Salisbury side rolled over the Terras in emphatic
fashion with goals from Matt Tubbs and Marvin Brown, and they
could have had more.
The catalyst for the home side's dramatic slump was the game's
opening goal which was clearly yards offside but that was
still no excuse for the lack of fight and passion that followed
from some of the Weymouth players, who as a unit totally lost
their way.
A deafening chorus of boos rang out at the final whistle
with some fans threatening to rip up their season tickets
and others calling for manager Jason Tindall to be sacked.
The 30-year-old's bad day at the office began before the
match had even started with the club's leading scorer Jefferson
Louis refusing to take a seat on the bench and leaving the
ground adamant that he deserves to be in the starting XI.
Wilfried Domoraud was the surprise inclusion in the Terras'
frontline. The Yeovil Town loanee was making his debut after
penning a one-month loan deal the previous day.
Fit again trio Justin Roberts, Nick Crittenden and Stuart Beavon
were also recalled while Joel Kitamirike, Conal Platt and Gavin
McCallum all dropped to the bench. Paolo Vernazza missed out
due to a foot injury.
Having already claimed a win and a draw in the last ten days
against City, the Terras entered the game with bragging rights
and it was clear that the visitors were determined to even
the scores.
Nick Holmes' side sent a dangerous early corner across the face
of the six-yard box and began the brighter side but on eight
minutes they suffered a blow when defender Matthew Robinson
had to withdraw from the game after a nasty clash of heads.
Salisbury's medical team did initially try to patch him up
but in the end Oliver Barnes replaced him on 15 minutes.
Domoraud was certainly looking to impress and just before
City's early substitution he nearly went clean through after
a fine pass by Beavon.
The Yeovil loanee accelerated through the gears but his first
touch was a little heavy and that allowed keeper Ryan Clarke
to gather.
Marcus Browning then shot high and wide after some good work
by Crittenden as the hosts began to enjoy a sustained period
of pressure.
On 19 minutes Domoraud should have put the hosts ahead after
Browning had flicked on a ball from the back by Kyle Critchell.
The speedy striker raced through but his low shot was saved
superbly by the outstretched right foot of Clarke.
A threatening far-post cross by Sandell led to Critchell
making a vital clearance from inside his own six-yard box
at the other end after a header by Darryl Clarke but the game
was quickly becoming very scrappy with both sides guilty of
giving the ball away far too cheaply.
The final effort of the half came in added-time when Sandell
had a stunning half volley from 30 yards pushed around a post
by home stopper Jason Matthews.
Weymouth have had a habit recently of conceding early goals
in the second half and on 51 minutes the curse struck again.
Browning committed a foul and was booked after getting caught
dwelling on the ball and from the resulting free-kick Matt
Tubbs sent a flick header past Matthews and into the far corner
of the net.
The Terras were furious as the City striker was clearly stood
in an offside position when the cross was fired in but the
assistant referee covering that half of the pitch disagreed.
Marvin Brown had a great chance to double the advantage shortly
after but when he broke into the box and tried to stab the
ball into the corner of the net Matthews made a fine save.
But the ex-Yeovil striker was not going to be denied and
on 65 minutes he made up for that miss by heading home from
close range.
A cross from the right was flicked on and Brown guided the
ball into the ground from six yards out, foxing the wrong-footed
Matthews who could only help it in.
Platt replaced Browning seconds later and he soon went about
trying to make an instant impact, firing wide from 25 yards.
Barnes responded by hitting the bar from a corner for City
who then sealed the result with a penalty on 83 minutes.
Crittenden was judged to have upended Sandell, and Tubbs
sent Matthews the wrong way with a confident spot-kick. The
Terras were now getting torn to shreds and moments later Brown
nearly added a fourth, heading just wide of the far post from
13 yards.
Scott Doe and substitute Gavin McCallum both went close to
grabbing a consolation in the final minutes but Weymouth ended
the match looking like a side totally drained of confidence.
And unless an injection of experience and fresh impetus is
added in this month's transfer window a relegation dogfight
could soon be on the cards.
|
