A late Stafford Rangers' strike handed dismal Weymouth their first Dr Martens Premier Division defeat of the season.

Steve Claridge's charges lost their spot at the top of the table after a woeful showing in which they mustered only three shots on target in the entire 90 minutes at the Wessex Stadium.

Stafford had to wait until the 78th minute for Daniel Davidson to net the winner after a mistake by returning defender Mark Kenway.

The former Portland man failed to clear Wayne Daniel's long ball out of defence, allowing Davidson to stride through and slot past keeper Jason Matthews.

That goal was no more than Rangers deserved after carving out chance after chance against the mediocre hosts.

The Terras, who were without Claridge, looked to have bounced back from last week's FA Cup defeat early on and they should have taken the lead after just 24 seconds.

Jamie Impey's high up and under sent Luke Nightingale clear from last man Lee Barrow.

The former Portsmouth youngster took a couple of strides but with just keeper Ryan Price to beat, his low drive was well blocked by the Stafford custodian.

That was as good as it got for the home side in the opening period.

Too often the league leaders squandered possession by pumping high balls forward which were gratefully gobbled up by the giant Daniel.

The visitors bossed things throughout and carved their first serious chance on 11 minutes when Craig Wilding's neat cut back found the stretching Davidson who wildly blazed over the top.

Rangers continued to dominate and it took Martin Barlow's deflection to keep out Phil Robinson's stinging volley.

Davidson, one of the division's top scorers, should have put the visitors ahead on half an hour from an almost identical position as his

earlier chance but his tame effort was saved low down by Matthews.

Things didn't improve much for Weymouth after the break as the Midland side continued to make all the running.

Wilding lashed a volley inches wide from Gary Fife's inch perfect left wing cross, while Matthews denied Robert Heath's low drive.

Craig McAughtrie then sent a long range free-kick fizzing just past Matthews' post before Claridge threw himself and John Lamb on in a bid to shake his side into action.

Within seconds they registered their second shot on target when the player boss wriggled free in the box but his 12 yard effort was saved by Price.

His strike partner, Lee Phillips, was next to try his luck with 12 minutes left when he left fly after cutting inside, but Price got down well to block.

Within 60 seconds of that effort, it was Stafford who were celebrating when Davidson netted what proved to be the winner.

Weymouth threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the visitors in a desperate bid to prise an equaliser in the remaining minutes.

And they wasted a golden opportunity to grab a point when Steve Tully's right wing cross from deep was knocked back inside to an unmarked Phillips six yards out.

You would have put your house on the former Plymouth man finding the net but he summed up his side's afternoon by missing his kick, with the ball whacked away by a thankful Stafford rearguard.

Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Stephen Tully, Mark Kenway, Lee Phillips, Lee Russell, Luke Nightingale, Ian Hutchinson, Jamie Impey, Martin Barlow, Lee Philpott, Paul Buckle

Subs - Steve Claridge, Mark Robinson, Scott Partridge, Paul Gadsby, John Lamb