Paine hits Terras
By Nigel Biddlecoombe
STRUGGLING Weymouth are rooted to the bottom of the Blue Square
South table after falling to two second-half goals at Thurrock.
Josh Klein-Davis had given the Terras the lead after a quarter-of-an-hour
but they could not hold on to their lead and suffered their
sixth defeat of the season.
Terras boss Matty Hale included new signing Andy Caton
in his side as he made several changes to the outfit that
were thrashed by Bromley last weekend.
Former Team Bath and Oxford City midfielder Caton, made his
debut with Andy Harris, Scott Brice, Ian Hutchinson starting
a 4-5-1 formation.
Despite the defensive formation it was the visitors who engineered
the first opening when Chris Allen played Hutchinson into
space. The midfielder found Klein-Davies inside the Thurrock
penalty area, but the referees whistle brought a halt
to the promising move.
Thurrock came back and were unlucky not to take the lead
on seven minutes when David Bryant latched on to a cross from
Matt Bodkin but his headed effort cannoned off the underside
of the crossbar with Hutchinson steering the rebound to safety.
Almost immediately Caton released Dean Smith with a ball
through the home defence only for an assistants flag
to signal offside.
Weymouth took the lead in the 15th minute after Caton won
a corner which Allen took. Klein-Davies rose above the defence
to head home.
Within minutes a clearance from Martin Slocombe was picked
up by Klein-Davies who, after spotting home keeper David Hogan
well off of his line, attempted a cheeky lob from all of 45
yards however, the ball just dropped over the crossbar.
Fola Orilonishe and Paul Olima both wasted good chances for
Thurrock as they shot wide of the target before Terras
keeper Ryan Harrison held on to a fierce effort from Bodkin,
at the second attempt. With the first half coming to an end
Thurrock saw a second effort thud against the crossbar when
Leon McKenzie let fly from the edge of the area with such
power that the ball ended up going out of play for a throw-in.
Weymouth started the second period shakily and, despite having
plenty of time to clear Bodkins cross failed to do so
and allowed Leon Lalite a free shot at goal, however his effort
flew well over the crossbar.
The Terras first break of the half saw Slocombe and Caton
combine to travel from the edge of one penalty area to the
other, but the formers final delivery was poor and easily
cleared.
Shortly after this Matt Townley and Klein-Davies combined
to create room for Hutchinson, but his effort, under pressure
from Flynn, was wide of the target.
Thurrock pushed forward in numbers as the half progressed,
Harrison having to react quickly to steal the ball off Bodkin
after a slick four-man move had left the home man free in
the six- yard box. Then Hutchinson produced a superb challenge
on the edge of the box to rob David Knight.
Terras substitute Jake Reid ran free from just inside
the home half to reach the edge of the area, but his shot
was weak and easily held by Hogan.
Thurrock levelled the scores in the 64th minute as Bodkin
created room for McKenzie to shoot. Harrison was able to keep
out the effort, but not hold on to the ball allowing Phil
Anderson to slot home from close range.
This success spurred the home side on and skipper Kyle Critchell
did well to steer the ball over his own crossbar under pressure
from McKenzie.
Thurrocks winning goal came in the 75th minute, but
was not without its controversy.
Initially the referee had interpreted a challenge between
Klein-Davies and David Knight as a foul by the Weymouth man
for which he received a yellow card much to the bemusement
of the majority of the small crowd and as Knight swung
the free-kick across field Brice seemed to win the ball cleanly
in a tackle with Lalitte.
The referee changed his decision from awarding an attacking
throw to a free-kick following the advice of his assistant
who was at least 15 yards further away from play.
Anderson took the kick and floated it into the penalty area,
although the Terras half cleared, the ball fell to Matt Paine,
who fired home an unstoppable dipping volley from 25 yards.
Although Hale and the Terras reverted to a 4-4-2 formation
they were unable to find an equalising goal.
The closest they came was as Kenny Clark narrowly avoided
heading into his own goal and Brice saw his header from Hutchinsons
corner pass just the wrong side of the upright.
|