LEE Phillips has played his last game for Weymouth this season.
The 20-year-old striker, whose seven goals in just eight full appearances represent a highly successful two months on loan at the Wessex Stadium, was recalled by Plymouth Argyle ahead of the Terras Dr Martens Premier Division game at home to Crawley tonight.
Terras boss Andy Mason, who had hoped Pilgrims boss Paul Sturrock might agree to extend the Cornishman’s stay until the end of his current loan deal, said Phillips’ departure was “unfortunate”.
“Plymouth wanted him back to have a good look at him between now and the end of the season when his contract is up,” said Mason.
“But we can’t complain because we have had a very good couple of months out of him. He’s been a great asset to us.”
Mason said Phillips absence tonight meant he and Fred Davies would have to re-think their strategy of playing three strikers for the visit of a Crawley side who beat them 2-1 in Sussex back in December when the Terras fielded a trio of front men for the first time.
“Whether we have the players in the squad now to continue going that way remains to be seen,” he added.
Simon Browne could also miss tonight’s game through work commitments with Saturday’s substitutes Ian Hutchinson and Mark Gammon favourites to step into the starting line-up.
Mason reckons his men can still realistically aim for a third-place finish in the league table.
“It’s inevitable that the players will still be thinking about what might have been in the Trophy and it’s up to Fred and I to get Saturday’s disappointment against Southport out of their minds and get them focussing on maintaining our good home record tonight,” he said.
“It is still very tight in the league and we could go either up or down considerably depending on what sort of run we have.
“Tonight’s game is also our last in the league for nearly two weeks because we don’t have a fixture on Saturday or the following week now that Burton Albion are still in the Trophy. With that in mind we could do with a win so the teams above us don’t get too far away and we stay in touch for third place.”
Mason said he thought Crawley were one of the best sides they had played when they clashed at the Broadmead Stadium on December 16.
“Although they have experienced some indifferent results since then they are still basically one of the strongest squads in the league and will prove a tough test.”
LEE Phillips starred for Plymouth Argyle Reserves in a 3-0 South West & South Wales Alliance League victory over Yeovil Town at Home Park, yesterday.
TERRAS skipper John Waldock and keeper Danny Potter are expected to be suspended for the visit of Moor Green to the Wessex Stadium on Saturday March 17.
JEWSON WESSEX COMBINATION
WEYMOUTH RESERVES 1
HAMBLE RESERVES 1
CARL Mutch spared Weymouth’s blushes against struggling Hamble at the Wessex Stadium last night.
The former Portland United youngster struck late in the game to salvage a point for the depleted Terras.
Injuries and illness saw goalkeeper Dan Claxton play as an emergency striker and the giant gloveman almost sealed victory for the hosts with a header that cannoned off the bar, three minutes from time.
fixture on Saturday or the following week now that Burton Albion are still in the Trophy. With that in mind we could do with a win so the teams above us don’t get too far away and we stay in touch for third place.”
Mason said he thought Crawley were one of the best sides they had played when they clashed at the Broadmead Stadium on December 16.
“Although they have experienced some indifferent results since then they are still basically one of the strongest squads in the league and will prove a tough test.”
