Terras Breach-ed

WEYMOUTH equalled an unwanted 100-year-old record at the Dripping Pan when they slumped to an 11th successive defeat.

It was also a defeat that was to prove the last straw for Terras’ chairman, Ian Ridley, with manager Alan Lewer being replaced by Bobby Gould before the evening was out.

To add to the woes of the struggling Wessex Stadium outfit, assistant-boss Marcus Browning was red-carded in the last minute of the Blue Square Premier basement battle.

However, it should all have been so different. Stephen Reed returning in place of Dominic Merella missed a penalty when the visitors were fully in control of the game and the Terras failed to take several other chances in the first half.

Lewer’s other changes for the game saw Sam Cutler move to right- back in place of the rested Cameron Mawer and going for two up front, bringing Jermaine Palmer into the starting line-up.

Weymouth took the game to their hosts straight from the kick off as Kyle Critchell’s free-kick was flicked on by Palmer to Cliff Akur-ang whose shot was easily saved by Rikki Banks.

Ben Gill, who caused Lewes problems down the right flank, shot high over the bar and then did well to pull the ball back from the by-line only for Akurang to fail to control the bouncing ball.

Banks did well to deny Akurang as he bravely spread himself at the striker’s feet after being put through by Reed before the on-loan Barnet striker was felled by Chris Breach, the referee awarding the Terras a penalty in the 17th minute.

Reed stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his poor effort was saved as Banks dived to his left to hold on to the ball.

Within a couple of minutes Cutler found Marcus Browning in space and with the time to play the ball on to James Coutts. The Terras’ skipper laid the ball into the pace of Reed whose stinging 30-yard effort was well saved by Banks.

The home side’s first shooting opportunity came in the 34th minute, but Michael Standing saw his effort from the edge of the penalty area finish nearer the corner flag than the goal post.

With the half-time break imminent, Gill did really well to get in a cross from the right-hand edge of the penalty area which found Coutts in space close to the penalty spot, however, his shot flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

Lewes seemed to come out for the second period with more confidence and within a minute had their first shot on target, but Terras’ keeper Adam Legzdins easily gathered a cross-cum-shot from Sam Fisk.

Akurang should have done better when Gill and Cutler combined, but Breach robbed him at the expense of a corner, Gavin Hoyte then saw his header from Coutts’ corner saved on the goal-line by Banks.

Luke Rooney shot into the side- netting for the Rooks and Critchell had to be alert to rob David Wheeler after Standing had played a ball over the visitors’ defence.

Lewes scored the only goal of the game, in the 70th minute, but it came in controversial circumstances.

Standing found some space on the right-hand edge of the penalty box before crossing for Breach to score, beating Legzdins at his near post.

Weymouth were incensed that the goal was allowed to stand as the ball appeared to be 18 inches over the touchline before Standing delivered the cross, but the assistant referee was not up with play and unable to see the incident.

The goal drained what was left of the Terras’ confidence, while giving the home side the belief that they could grab another rare three points.

Ross Sutton shot into the side-netting, when he should have done better and Rooney went close with a 25-yard drive.

However, the only real action of the final minutes was the dismissal of Browning, who picked up a second yellow, when he mistimed a tackle on Grant Hall.

Lewes: Banks, Hall, Barness, Breach, Fisk, Wheeler, Standing, Keehan, Rivers (Storey 73), Rooney, Geoff Banks-Smith (Sutton 62). Subs not used: Wilkinson, Foreman, Osborn.

Weymouth: Legzdins, Cutler (Hart 57), Critchell, Collins (Onibuje 74), Hoyte, Reed, Gill, Coutts, Browning, Palmer, Akurang. Subs not used: Evans, Cooke, Merella