Bob would have been very proud
By Adam Summers

Monday 16th August 2010

TERRAS’ legend Bob Lucas inspired Ian Hutchinson’s men to capture a gutsy point at Halesowen Town on Saturday.

Weymouth travelled to the Grove for their Zamaretto Premier Divis-ion opener as huge underdogs but in a display full of character they honoured the life of their late, great president by holding the Yeltz to a 0-0 draw.

Lucas, who sadly died last Thurs-day, donned the gloves for the Terras during his playing days and the club’s latest number one, Tom Manley, believes he would have been proud of the team’s display.

He said: “All the boys were well aware of what happened to Bob last week and we were determined to put in a performance for him.

“Ian Hutchinson told us about the huge passion Bob had for the club and he wanted us to go out and produce a similar level to that in the game and I think we did just that.

“We wore black armbands and a minute’s silence was held before the match as well, so we did it for him really. He was a legend at the club and always will be, and that is why we were determined to give our all for him. I think he would have been proud of us.”

The Terras could have come home with all three points but a strange second-half call by the referee, which saw Warren Byerley have an effort ruled out, led to Sam Charles missing from the spot.

Manley added: “We were the better side in the second half and deserved a goal for our efforts, which we nearly got when Cameron Mawer slid the ball across for Warren to put into the net.

“However, the referee pulled it back and gave a penalty for a foul on Cameron instead, which unfortunately we missed.

“Sam picked his spot but the keeper guessed right and after that the momentum switched and Halesowen got their heads up and really had a go at us.

“We were put under a lot of pressure but the boys dug in and got loads of blocks in to ensure we came away with a point, which was the very least we deserved.

“A lot of people have written us off already and thought we would come back with a 5-0 defeat but we proved to them on Saturday that we can play and compete at this level against a very good side.

“It was a good stepping stone for us but it is also just one game and now we move on to the next one against Swindon Supermarine on Thursday night.

“We are now on minus nine points and the first objective, before we can think of anything else, is just to get back to positive figures as soon as possible.”