Johnson dilemma
By Matt Pitman

Friday 4th February 2005

STEVE Johnson admits he has selection headaches all over the park for the visit of Welling United tomorrow.

The Terras could fire themselves into the Conference South play-off zone for the first time this season with victory at the Wessex Stadium.

But after an impressive win at Basingstoke last week, the Weymouth boss is puzzled who to leave out for the visit of the Kent strugglers.

Johnson told Echosport: ''I've got a lot of choices to make over my team selection and the way it's looking I fully expect those left on the bench to be very disappointed come tomorrow afternoon.

But that's a nice position to be in as a manager and I wouldn't want it any other way.

"Our substitutes tomorrow will probably get in most other teams in our league and it's great to have such a strong squad.

"I've got a selection dilemma in nearly every position as striker Lee Phillips is now back from injury, Steve Tully could play a part and new signing Roy O'Brien is available.

"But the question is whether to disrupt a winning side but I think I know how I'm going to resolve the issue.

"Everyone of my squad deserves to be involved but that unfortunately can't happen".

"So I'm going to write down each player on a scrap of paper, throw them up in the air and randomly pick 11 for the starting line up," he joked.

Those who do start could help fire the Terras to their highest league position of the season, if Hornchurch slip up at home to high-flying Lewes.

Johnson is calling for another big effort from his players after last week's dramatic last-gasp win at the Camrose.

"The win at Basingstoke was fantastic but we can't let all that good work go to waste with a sloppy performance tomorrow," he said.

"The pressure will be on us, being at home, but the crowd can certainly play their part tomorrow.

''A win could see us sneaking into the play-off zone which would be' fantastic, although there is a long way to go this season".

"We've got to get at Welling early on and put them under pressure".

"If we do that, we have the quality to go on and win the game."

Johnson has been further boosted after Yeovil Town have given permission for loan midfielder Nicolas Mirza to stay at the Wessex Stadium until late March.

"Nicolas's initial one-month loan deal still has a couple of weeks to run but Yeovil have kindly extended it for another month," said Johnson.

"That's good news because Nicolas has been excellent for us in his two games so far."

Meanwhile O'Brien says being appointed new Terras player coach is an 'honour'.

"They are a great set of lads and 'the manager is very ambitious as well as the chairman," said the 30-year-old Irish defender, who has signed an 18-month contract.

"It's a new role for me and being offered a position as a player-coach down there is an honour, especially at such a young age. I'm delighted and overwhelmed by that offer."