Gift for Minstermen
By Adam Summers

WEYMOUTH'S poor home form continued as York took full advantage of some slack defending at the Wessex Stadium.

Both teams enjoyed plenty of chances throughout this end-to-end game that saw both goalkeepers produce some great saves but it was the Minstermen who proved more clinical.

After Jefferson Louis missed a first-half penalty for the Terras the visitors went two up after the break with strikes from Darren Kelly and Craig Farrell before substitute Gavin McCallum replied late on.

The result means York have hopped above Weymouth in the table. The Terras are now 18th, seven points above the bottom four.

The big change in the Terras' line-up saw experienced stopper Jason Matthews replace youngster Jon Stewart between the posts.

The 19-year-old was at fault for two of the goals in the Terras' 3-2 defeat at Altrincham in their previous game.

On the bench Marcus Browning and Simon Weatherstone returned from injury and Justin Roberts made his first appearance in a match-day squad since serving a three-match ban for a red card he picked up in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay win at Hitchin Town.

This was seen by many as a must-win game for both sides so it was no surprise to see a tentative start to the proceedings.

City's players were clearly keen to impress caretaker boss Colin Walker, experiencing his first game in charge since the sacking of Billy McEwan, and it was the visitors that made the first opening.

A cross from the right found Mark Robinson, and with Matthews stranded, his shot looked to be flying in until defender Neil Young somehow turned it wide with a fantastic goal-line clearance.

Weymouth responded with a shot from Danny Phillips that cleared the bar before on 10 minutes the Minstermen squandered another great chance.

Paul Brayson got in behind the home defence but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Matthews, the striker then tried to tee up Farrell but he could only force the ball back into the home stopper's hands.

Stuart Beavon had a close-range header saved at the other end by Tom Evans moments later but after a mistake by Narada Bernard, York were soon on the attack again. Brayson squared the ball to Darren Craddock but again his strike was too close to Matthews who made another terrific stop.

Both defences were looking less than convincing and on 21 minutes it was the Terras' turn to go close.

Young set up Phillips and when he curled a left-footed shot towards the bottom left corner of the net Kelly was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

A quiet period followed before on the half-hour City created another opening on the break. Beavon caught a forearm in the face and went down but referee Andrew Turner unbelievably refused to stop the game and that allowed the visitors to counter-attack.

The ball ended with Manny Panther but his seven-yard shot flew over the bar when he should have done better after some more indecisive defending.

A good interchange of passes between Beavon and Crittenden ended with the latter testing Evans on 37 minutes before the Terras then made a change, switching to a 3-5-2 system with James Coutts replacing Bernard.

Within three minutes that swap seemed to pay off when Conal Platt, now playing in behind the forwards, made a fine break into the box and sent in a cross that ricocheted off a defender and on to the hand of another.

Turner pointed to the spot but Weymouth wasted the opport-unity. Louis stepped up but Evans blocked his powerful effort while diving to his right.

The Terras then squandered another chance at the end of the half when Beavon played in Crittenden whose shot beat Evans but fell just wide.

The home side began the second half brightly and within two minutes Louis blasted a free-kick from 20 yards towards goal but again Evans thwarted him with a fine reaction save.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued and on 53 minutes Mat-thews made a fabulous save to push a shot from Panther out of play.

From the resulting corner a moment of pinball in the box saw Brayson nod on to Kelly who directed a looping header towards the left corner, and with Matthews caught flat-footed, the ball dropped over the line.

Weymouth sent on McCallum for Louis and the home side went close to levelling when Coutts' free-kick was fumbled by Evans and Beavon tried to force the ball over the line.

The home fans behind the goal called for a goal but the assistant referee's flag stayed down after the danger was cleared.

Weymouth's hopes then took another blow when a fine through ball by Robinson found Farrell who slotted a confident shot past Matthews on 61 minutes.

The Terras began to commit men forward in a desperate bid to get back in the game and inevitably they left gaps at the back.

On 75 minutes Farrell had a great chance to get his second after a cross from the left but his shot went straight at Matthews.

Coutts had a long-range effort saved in the latter stages but it seemed Weymouth had run out of ideas until McCallum let fly with a blockbuster from 25 yards with six minutes remaining to reduce the deficit.

Martyn Woolford had a goal-bound shot blocked by Young moments later and then in added time was thwarted by Matthews after tricking two Weymouth defenders when trying to hold the ball in the corner.