|
Gift-wrapped
By Nigel Biddlecombe
THE LONG journey to North Yorkshire proved fruitless for Weymouth
as they returned home with no points and their unbeaten run
of three games brought to an end.
Second-half goals from Martyn Woolford and David McGurk,
after defensive errors from the Terras, was enough for the
Minstermen who move four places in Blue Square Premier to
tenth, while the Terras remain in 19th spot.
Manager Jason Tindall made four changes from the side that
took a point at Salisbury on Boxing Day.
Justin Roberts failed a fitness test shortly before the game,
Stuart Beavon was also unfit while Nick Crittenden and Danny
Phillips were relegated to the bench. That meant Marcus Browning,
Joel Kitamirike, James Coutts and Gavin McCallum all came
into the side.
It was the visitors who made the early running as the rain
drove across the Kit Kat Stadium. There were just two minutes
on the clock when a move which included nine passes ended
with Conal Platt firing wide.
The Terras were forced to make an early substitution as Paolo
Vernazza left the field with a foot injury to be replaced
by Danny Phillips.
The change did not have an adverse effect on Weymouth as they
set about their business and frustrated the home supporters
who could only watch as their favourites were unable to make
any real progress.
Anton Robinson had to look sharp to dispossess Onome Sodje
while Craig Farrell fired two efforts wide and Jason Matthews
saved well from Stuart Elliott. These though, were the only
real opportunities that a resolute Terras side allowed the
Minstermen in the first half.
Excellent build up play from Robinson, Coutts and Browning
created a shooting opportunity for Phillips, but his effort
sailed well wide.
Before the break Platt fired wide and Sido Jombarti saw his
drive from 15 yards well saved.
The home side looked a different outfit as the second period
kicked off and Matthews was forced into action by Sodje with
just two minutes gone, the same player then headed over the
bar from the resulting corner.
York took the lead in the 51st minute when Farrell got the
better of Kitamarike and crossed for Woolford to fire home
under the despairing dive of Matthews.
Although Scott Doe was off target with a couple of efforts,
the home side were beginning to exert more pressure on the
visitors' goal and the Terras were afforded a let off when
Ben Purkiss' terrific cross into the box was missed by everybody
and Farrell sent two efforts over the bar.
However, City made sure of all three points in the 74th minute
when the visiting defence failed to clear Farrell's corner
at the near post and McGurk was on hand to drive home from
the edge of the six-yard box.
Within minutes of netting his first goal for City, McGurk
was on hand to deny Jefferson Louis with a superb tackle after
Coutts had delivered a perfect ball into the Weymouth striker's
path.
The Terras refused to give up on the game, but were unable
to find the killer touch as Phillips shot wide and Louis failed
to get his pass away to Douglas who would have had a clean
run on goal.
At the other end Farrell shot against an upright as the home
side broke following a Weymouth free-kick on the edge of York's
penalty area.
* Weymouth's Blue Square Premier fixture at home to Farsley
Celtic has now been re-arranged for Tuesday, January 29. Kick
off 7.45pm.
|
