Hutch's regret
By Adam Summers

Friday 20th August 2010

IAN Hutchinson admitted after last night’s goalless stalemate against Swindon Supermarine that he wished his side had put on a better show for all those that turned out to pay their respects to late club president Bob Lucas.

In the first-ever competitive game to take place at the newly-named Bob Lucas Stadium, a crowd of 743 paid tribute to the ex-keeper with an emotional minute’s silence before the Terras failed to break down a lively Supermarine side in last night’s Zamaretto Premier Division clash.

In a candid and honest post-match interview with Echosport, Hutchinson, whose side entertain Oxford City tomorrow (3pm), said: “The only positive that came out of the first half was that we could not play any worse.

“We looked nothing like the team that played so well in the 0-0 draw at Halesowen on Saturday. In fact, we were miles off it. We improved a little bit in the second half but with such a good crowd and it being such a poignant occasion it was a great shame that we failed to put on a better show.

“We are still lacking that bit of quality and we will continue to endeavour to get that in. We need to improve in the final third as defensively we are looking quite sound. The ball just did not stick up there tonight and when that happens you are always likely to struggle.

“However, on the positive side, it’s another point and another clean sheet, and again there were some good performances.”

Prior to kick-off, Jean Lucas, Bob’s widow, cut a ceremonial tape on the halfway line to officially mark the renaming of the stadium before rejoining her relations on the edge of the centre circle for the minute’s silence.

And with half the gate receipts being donated to the grieving family, Hutchinson was quick to thank all the fans for turning out in their numbers.

He added: “It was great to see so many paying their respects but if we want to keep having big crowds we have certainly got to play better than that. As for the minute’s silence, I thought Jean was very brave going out to the centre circle with her family in what was a touching tribute to a Weymouth icon.”