BOSS Steve Claridge hopes to sign a loan goalkeeper ahead of Weymouth's Nationwide South home clash with Bishop's Stortford this weekend.

The player-manager wants to draft in a replacement on a short-term basis following Jason Matthews's controversial late dismissal at Hornchurch last Monday.

The former Salisbury City keeper was given his marching orders

when he was deemed to have

hauled down substitute Jean Michel Sigere late on in the Urchins' 2-1 win.

Matthews was furious with the

decision, claiming defender Rob-

bie Pethick committed the offence and he was the victim of mistaken

identity.

But Claridge today said the Terras would not be appealing against the decision after reviewing video

evidence of the incident.

Matthews is now set to receive a three-match ban, ruling him out of Weymouth's trip to Weston-super-Mare and home games against Carshalton and Basingstoke later this month.

Claridge said: "We've taken a look at the video from the game and although Jason maintains his

innocence, unfortunately the footage does not really show exactly what happened in the incident.

"The upshot is that if we appealed,

it is doubtful whether we would

realistically win it so we have

decided to accept the decision and punishment.

"Obviously it is a blow losing Jason for what will probably be three games because he is our only experienced keeper.

Competition

"We've got young Simon Evans who is a good prospect but I don't want to throw him in at the deep end yet at only 16 years-old.

"Since Monday I've spent plenty of hours on the phone trying to sort

out a loan keeper and although I haven't had any joy yet, I'm

hopeful of getting someone in for the weekend.

"Jason will be the first to say that he wants serious competition for his place and hopefully, if I can get one of the people I'm talking to, he will get that.

"I'm always looking to strengthen every position, not just goalkeeper, because you've always got to keep people on their toes.

"But getting another keeper is my number one priority over the next couple of days and hopefully there will be some good news on that front pretty soon."

Claridge hopes to have midfielder Lee Philpott back in his squad for the weekend after the former Leicester City star missed the Bank Holiday weekend games with an ankle injury.

But former Aldershot midfielder Lee Charles is likely to be sidelined for at least another two weeks with a torn leg muscle.

"Lee injured himself during the warm up of the Grays games last Saturday," said Claridge.

"That is obviously a blow and it seems that after a fairly settled pre-season, we're suffering more than our fair share of injuries again."