Impley The Best

A well crafted build up leading to a wonder strike by Lee Phillips late in the first half ensured that all three points were safely bought back to Dorset in this mid table tussle at Keys Park, home of former Conference side Hednesford Town.

Surprise inclusions in the Terras line up were Jamie Impey and Michael Jackson, both passed late fitness tests, whilst Lee Russell failed to make the journey North, suffering from a stomach bug.

Hednesford started the brighter on this warm sunny afternoon; choosing to play the channels, Weymouth eased themselves into the game their tenacity and grit would be the watch word for the day as they did not allow their hosts to settle and closed them down in an instant.
Steve Tully sets off, watched by John Waldock
Weymouth had the first real chance on goal after 16 minutes, Simon Browne�s left side cross found Steve Tully at the far post whose volley screamed over the bar. Play swung to the other end and a commanding Jason Matthews tidied up well by coming off his line to punch clear a deep through ball by Luke Corbett and minutes later an Emeka Nwadike cross to the far post was headed wide by Steve Pierce.

Steve Tully had the home side chasing shadows after 24 minutes, a neat 1- 2 between Waldock and Phillips freed Tully who skipped down the line, cutting inside he left his marker for dead before unleashing a powerful effort that had Bingham at his best to hold on to the stinger.

Weymouth continued to plug at the Pitmen and the pacey Tully was causing all sorts of problems on the right flank although the Terras next chance came courtesy of the left flank. An Ian Hutchinson knock down set up Phillips whose blistering effort had Bingham taking two grabs to keep hold of the ball.

Terras celebrate Phillips’ goalWeymouth took a deserved lead on 40 minutes, Bailey won the ball in midfield and fed the ball out to Tully, beating his marker he slipped the ball to Robinson on the edge of the box in front of goal, sensing Phillips presence he pushed the ball out wide and the Cornishman hit it first time from all of 20 yards that gave the home glove man no chance.

This was fast becoming the Steve Tully show, just before the break he picked up the ball just inside Hednesford’s half, pushing the ball down the line he beat two players then nutmegged a third as he raced into the area, his clipped cross created a goal mouth scramble that was eventually cleared and right into first half injury time Tully�s right sided cross found Phillips, his looping header had Bingham beaten but the ball landed onto roof of the net.

So at half time the score was: Hednesford Town 0 Weymouth 1

The Terras started the second half where they had left off in the first, on the attack. The hardworking Phillips turned provider for Simon Browne, turning on a sixpence he spotted Jackson at the far post, his pin point cross was headed goalwards but was gathered under the crossbar by Bingham.

Tully again was evident in attack, a Jackson nod down to him was fired in but hit a home side backside to go out for a corner.

Hednesford�s first real shot on goal came on 55 minutes, a fast build up on their left flank set up substitute David Berks, his powerful shot had Matthews beaten but crashed into the side netting.

The home side came into the game more when out of the shadow of their impressive main stand loomed the imposing shape of Kevin Francis; at over 6�6″ he would not be out of place on a basket ball court, immediately Danny Bailey positioned himself in front of him and Jamie Impey one pace behind.

With just over an hour gone and with Weymouth on the back foot, Matthews pulled off a fingertip save from a Stuart Lake shot. The Pitmen began to dominate as Weymouth struggled to get out of their half, but at the same time were never troubled as stout defending by Waldock, Impey and Redwood and poor passing by Hednesford made Matthews just an interested admirer.

Time and again balls were pumped in to the towering Francis and every time Impey out jumped him and cleared the danger. Bemoaning their sides lack of creativity, with long high balls and inept passing, the home fans sounded not unlike the Wessex faithful of late.

That man Tully spun in a corner to Jackson with 75 minutes gone, his resultant header went well over the bar.

Hednesford came back at the Terras and Stuart Airdrie should have done better on 78 minutes, with the goal at his mercy from 5 yards he headed over. Two minutes later, Pierce split the Weymouth defence and rushed goal wards, with only Matthews to beat he totally miss kicked and the ball trickled out for a goal kick.

With the visitors making furtive checks on their watches Lee Phillips chased a lost ball down on the left flank, with Darren Simkin wrestling with him for position Phillips kept control of the ball keeping it in play, with Simkin now in the dust Phillips looked up from his by line position spotting the flowing locks of Ian Hutchinson, he cut the ball back to him, with the travelling Terras already off their seats in celebration the ball bobbled and Hutchie struck the ball with his shin and the relieved Bingham watched the ball spoon over the bar.

Hednesford had been undone and their rapidly thinning crowd greeted the final whistle with boos and jeers, whilst the visitors took home the spoils.

So at the final whistle the score was:

Hednesford Town 0 Weymouth 1

12

Travelling supporters Top Terra: Jamie Impey
(Tully would have got it but for his silly haircut!)

Hednesford Town:
Michael Bingham, Ashley Williams, Bryan Small, Darren Simkin, Stuart Ryder,
Emeka Nwadike, David Moss, Stuart Lake (Kevin Francis 56),
Luke Corbett (Graham Lancashire 76), Steven Piearce, Stewart Airdrie (David Berks 45)
Subs not used: Adam Jenkings [GK], Chris Brindley

Weymouth:
Jason Matthews, Stephen Tully, Simon Browne, Jamie Impey, John Waldock, Toby Redwood,
Mark Robinson, Ian Hutchinson, Danny Bailey, Michael Jackson, Lee Phillips 1
Subs not used: Alex Browne, Michael Sajic, Leon Green

Referee: M.E.Weaver (Warley)
topAssistants: S.K.Checketts, M.J.Kelly