Rolls in the dugout as bug hits Terras
By Derek Bish

Wednesday 3rd March 2010

CHAIRMAN George Rolls was in the Weymouth dugout for their unfortunate 2-1 defeat to Staines Town last night after a bug swept through the Terras’ camp.

With manager Jerry Gill and reserve boss Dave Kiteley both struck down by illness – as well as midfielder Simon Radcliffe – and player/assistant-manager Andy Harris slotting in at right-back, Rolls vacated his usual seat in the directors’ box to a less comfortable one on the touchline.

The home side dominated large parts of proceedings but conceded two deflected goals, either side of Matt Groves’ second strike in a week, and were unable to take a host of chances that came their way.

“Jerry’s ill, he’s got a dose of something,” said Harris. “Dave Kiteley the reserve manager and Simon Radcliffe have as well, so there is obviously something going through the camp.

“I played to add a little bit of experience to the side so I asked Dave Kiteley to come in and help out.

“But he said he was sick and Gary Calder is holding the fort so the chairman was the only person still about.

“We needed someone on the side to act as a link between the bench and the pitch.”

The Terras started brightly, but an action-packed end to the first half saw three goals, two of them deflected in for Staines.

Harris said: “I felt that we started brightly in the first half an hour and we’ve fallen behind twice to two deflections so we’re cursing our luck a little bit – we’re just looking for a little rub of the green at the minute.

“The harder we work the luckier we will get and it’s got to turn at some point. We have to apply ourselves like we did tonight, put the performances in and show the endeavour and spirit we showed tonight.”

He added: “We take a little bit of solace in the chances we created but we have to score those goals to take the pressure off ourselves, otherwise we’re always going to find ourselves in the position where we’re chasing games.”

Harris also vowed to fight on until the end of the season, regardless of whether or not the club’s seemingly certain relegation is confirmed in the coming weeks.

“We’re semi-professionals, we get paid to play so whether we get relegated or stay up we need to go into every game showing the same determination to get points and do well,” he said. “That’s not only for the fans and the club but for ourselves so we can look in the mirror and know we have given our all.