Johnson points finger at Terras
by Paul Baker

Monday 20th December 2004

STEVE Johnson admitted things got 'personal' in the dressing room following the Terras disappointing 2-2 draw with Margate at the Wessex Stadium.

The Weymouth boss was left fuming after his side twice surrendered the lead against their struggling Conference South rivals.

Efforts from debutant Angolan star Bernardo Cariata and Kirk Jackson were cancelled out by Adrian Clarke and Ross Smith during a 14-minute goal feast early in the second half.

Johnson said his players lacked the mental toughness and leadership skills required to win the game and accused them of hiding away.
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"That was a living nightmare," he blasted.

"Not one of my players had the right mental attitude today and there were certainly no leaders on the park.

Too many players were happy to hide away and it's not good enough.

"At home we need people to either get hold of the ball or at least want the bloody thing but there was none of that out there this afternoon.

How are we going to win football matches when we give the ball away so easily and then make no attempt to get it back?

"First half we were poor and I murdered the lads at half-time.

At the final whistle I was just grateful to get a point but I've given them a right rollicking in the dressing room about it.

"To begin with I was generalising with my comments but then the players started asking who was at fault.

That's when it got a bit personal in there and I pointed at certain people and said 'you, you and you'.

"If that's what they want then I'll tell them straight and I don't have a problem with that.

They know what's required on a Saturday afternoon and they were well short of that today."

After the previous weekend's excellent ten-man victory at Bishop's Stortford, the Terras had
been expected to breeze past a lowly Margate who only named two substitutes after two players fell ill on the coach journey to Dorset.

However, in contrast to their display at the Woodside Stadium, the hosts fell well short in terms of passion and sparkle.

"There were no brightness about our game at all," added Johnson.

"It seems we can get ourselves up for the big occasions like Havant and Bishop's Stortford when our backs were against the walls, but not for the bread and butter stuff like Margate.

"If we don't lighten up then we're going to come unstuck and we can forget all the talk of play-offs and promotion.

I don't like having a go at my players but sometimes they deserve it and this is one of those occasions."

Despite his fury, Johnson sang the praises of new boy Cariata who celebrated his Weymouth debut with both a goal and the man of the match award.

"He's done well," said the manager, "and his goal was a cracker.

It's just a pity we switched off after that and let Margate equalise, just as we did following Kirk's effort.

"Bernardo is going to be a good asset for us and there's plenty more to come from him in the months ahead."

• Yeovil Town have agreed to extend Roy O'Brien's loan period at the Wessex Stadium for a further month.

The Glovers defender had been due to return to Huish Park during the first week of January.

• Defender Nathan Bunce is the latest player to be released by the Terras.

Manager Johnson said: "Nathan and I have to come to an agreement over his contract and he has now left the football club."