Weymouth put in one of their best performances of 2015 on Saturday, but were left dejected after Corby nicked the points thanks to a Greg Mills goal late in the day.
It was a must win game for both sides, and it was the Steelmen who made a bright start – coming within inches of taking the lead early on.
A long ball drifted in the heavy wind and allowed Elliot Chamberlain to get in front of his man. He poked the ball past Matthews, but could only look on as the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the post. An early let off for the hosts.
The visitors were clearly keen to use the wind to their advantage in the first half, but the Terras defence stood firm, and the offside trap worked a treat.
Gradually Weymouth grew into the contest, and the visitors were given a warning on the half hour mark, when a flowing counter attack led to Dean Evans hitting a powerful shot on the volley, only to be thwarted by a desperate covering defender.
Chris Shephard then went close – drifting past three Corby defenders before curling an effort just wide of the post, as the two sides went in at the break level.
Early in the second half Weymouth were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, but after a scramble in the box Corby cleared it, and nearly scored on the counter attack, when Cleveland Taylor played the ball perfectly into Montserrat International Spencer Weir-Daley, but Jason Matthews did well to come off his line and smother the shot.
On the hour mark the visitors were left cursing their luck, as a beautifully struck free kick was tipped onto the crossbar by Matthews before being scrambled to safety, and the home crowd breathed a sigh of relief.
The game was becoming more open now, and Dean Evans missed a glorious chance, heading over the crossbar when diving in at the back post unmarked.
Shortly afterwards skipper Stewart Yetton saw a shot deflected wide after Sills had pounced on a poor goal kick.
With seven minutes to go, the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw, but then out of nowhere the Steelmen struck a cruel blow.
A long ball forwards fell kindly for Greg Mills, and he shrugged off the attentions of Calvin Brooks before drilling a powerful show beyond the despairing reach of Matthews into the bottom corner of the net to give Corby a precious lead, and spark scenes of delirium among the travelling support.
Minutes later Matthews was on hand to stop Mills doubling the lead, and deep into injury time the Terras gloveman charged up the pitch for one last corner, and he very nearly ended up with an assist to his name – flicking a corner on to Chris McPhee, who saw his overhead kick blocked on the line by a defender, and the visitors held on to claim a precious three points.
Matthews was in tears as the full time whistle went, and as Corby celebrated moving one step closer to the championship, the Terras were left to reflect on what might have been. They had given absolutely everything and nobody could fault them, but one moment of quality cost them the game.
With St Neots Town picking up a win, the Terras now lie seventh – level on points with Redditch three points behind the Saints who now hold the final play-off spot.
Corby remain one point clear of Poole at the top of the table, after the Dolphins came from behind to win 3-1 at Chesham United, albeit in slightly controversial circumstances.
David Pearce had given United the lead just six minutes in, and for the first half an hour the hosts were well on top. But the game changed ten minutes before half time.
Richard Gillespie was brought down on the edge of the area, and the Chesham defender saw red as last man, despite strong protests from the hosts that he’d won the ball.
The Dolphins rubbed salt into the wounds when Steve Devlin scored from the resulting free kick, and the turnaround was completed a minute before half time when Richard Gillespie himself scored.
Devlin then hit another stunning free kick midway through the second half to seal the points for the Dolphins, and set up a titanic clash with Weymouth on Tuesday night at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
All’s Poole need to do is draw their final two matches and they would win the league by virtue of their superior goal difference, but Weymouth need the points to keep alive their play-off hopes, and as the Terras themselves found out in February – setting up for a draw isn’t always the best idea.
A win for Weymouth would see them go level on points with St Neots town going into the final day of the season, and it would leave Poole needing to win against Corby on the final day – something they have failed to do in any of their three meetings in league and cup this season.
This game might not be the title decider it looked like being a few months ago, but it is still the biggest game of both clubs seasons by far, and it promises to be an epic battle on Tuesday night in front of a bumper crowd at the BLS.
Elsewhere on Saturday – Dorchester Town made it three games unbeaten with an impressive victory at Paulton Rovers.
Sam Lanahan gave the Magpies the lead just two minutes into the contest, and two minutes from time they doubled the lead through Bradley Tarbuck.
They were made to sweat through injury time as the hosts pulled one back three minutes later, but Jermyn’s men held on to secure an excellent three points, and move up a place to 17th in the table.
They’ll be looking to end on a high when they host Slough Town on Saturday in their final game of the season. There’s nothing riding on the game, but after a long and difficult season, the Magpies will just be over the moon to be going into the final day of the season without the threat of relegation looming over them.
But it’s all about the big game on Tuesday night. Nevermind the Champions League on TV – this is the real big match. Get yourselves down to the Bob Lucas Stadium and support your local team in this titanic tussle!
James Spring
