Hill blames inept defensive show for defeat
By Adam Summers

Tuesday 2nd January 2007

WEYMOUTH boss Garry Hill blamed his side's 3-2 defeat at Forest Green Rovers on an inept defensive performance in the first half.

The Terras were three down at the break but battled back in the second half courtesy of two goals by skipper Ben'Smith. The ex-Yeovil Town midfielder has now netted ten so far this season.

Hill said: "I am very disappointed because we did not defend properly at set-pieces in the first half. We did not take responsibility and gave ourselves a mountain to climb at half-time.

"In the second half we showed why we have done so well this season. We showed character and got back in the game at 3-2. However, we lost Ashley Vickers with a hamstring injury, which meant we had to play the last ten to 15 minutes with ten men. Watching us in the first 45 minutes we can have no excuses with the end result."

Vickers came on in the latter stages of the first half for Roy O'Brien, who suffered a facial injury.

Hill said: "The injury to Ashley is a big disappointment. It was his third game in six days and I knew it was going to be hard for him. He did very well when he came on but unfortunately these things happen. We
changed things around a bit today. We had Raphael Nade up front with Dean Howell and Lee Elam either side of him and three in midfield but defensively we were disappointing.

"People are given responsibilities and a job to do but I am afraid to say we did not defend properly in the first half. You cannot give goals away and expect to get a result. When you get two goals away from home you expect to come away with something."

The Terras have now dropped to fifth in Nationwide Conference National, so Saturday's home game against third-placed Burton Albion promises to be a cracker.

Hill said: "They are all massive games. We have had two reverses on the trot but it is very tight at the top. It is tight from first to tenth and there is a big cluster of clubs wanting to be in that top five.

"The Burton Albion game on Saturday is going to be massive. We have then got Halifax Town away and Exeter City away after that so we are going to have to dig in to get results." With the transfer window now open the Terras are expected to strengthen their squad.

Hill said: "We have had the halfway stage and some players might be feeling the effects. It is a long season and it takes it toll sometimes. We will have to see what happens."