Spot-on Simon
By Adam Summers

SKIPPER Simon Weatherstone netted a crucial second-half spot-kick to land the Terras a vital point in their bid for survival.

When Jamie Taylor opened the scoring on 33 minutes it looked like Weymouth were heading for a third successive loss but several great saves from home keeper Stephen Henderson and a foul by former Terra Adam Gross on Matt Bailey in the box ensured the spoils were shared.

Terras' boss John Hollins made one change to his starting line up with Nick Crittenden replacing James Coutts.

The former AFC Bournemouth midfielder dropped to the bench where he was joined by fit again Trevor Challis who was making his first appearance in a match-day squad since recovering from a calf strain.

Despite his side lacking confidence in front of goal, Hollins also decided not to name a substitute forward with Stuart Douglas dropping completely out of the squad.

Grays, who entered the game unbeaten in their last seven, also included a second former Weymouth man in their first XI in Simon Downer.

advertisementStarting the game one point adrift of safety it was vital that the hosts made a positive start and in the opening minutes Mark Convery posed a threat on the left.

First he sent a fantastic ball down the line for Stuart Beavon whose cross was cleared from just in front of Michael Malcolm before he then had a shot from 25 yards that cleared the bar.

Grays replied by putting over a cross at the other end that Henderson spilt and was lucky to re-gather.

That was certainly not the start the Bristol City loanee was looking for after a nervy game against Oxford United on Saturday.

Weatherstone was also a lucky man when he flew in two-footed down on the touchline. He made contact with the ball but in the current climate was perhaps fortunate to escape with only a yellow card.

The Terras regained their composure again and on 11 minutes they nearly opened the scoring when Beavon let fly with a low drive from 20 yards that brought a fantastic save out of Nicky Eyre who did superbly to push the ball up on to the right upright.

All Grays could muster in the opening third of the game were three shots from long range that flew well off target.

However, on the half-hour mark they began to build some pressure and after Aaron O'Connor had a powerful shot from outside the box held well by Henderson, they broke the deadlock.

A ball over the top saw the Weymouth defenders step up but Taylor beat the offside trap, ran clear and applied a cool finish to find the left corner of the net.

The hosts' nerves suddenly looked in shreds and two minutes before the break they lost Malcolm to injury after a sickening collision with Grays' keeper Eyre.

The striker led motionless for a while but when he was eventually carried off he did show signs of movement to the relief of everyone.

Challis was the man that replaced Malcolm. He went to left back, Scott Doe went into central defence and Bailey was pushed up front.

And the switch nearly paid off immediately when Beavon got in the box and tried to lift the ball over Eyre, which he successfully pulled off but the ball dropped over the bar much to his frustration.

At the start of the second half Grays could have doubled their tally but when O'Connor put in Danny Kedwell, Henderson spread himself well and made a fine save.

The Weymouth keeper made another excellent stop to deny Barry Cogan moments later but on 58 minutes the Terras were handed a lifeline when Gross upended Bailey in the box after a long ball from Doe.

Weatherstone stepped up and tucked the ball away confidently, sending Eyre the wrong way.

Turner responded by testing Henderson with a curler before Beavon produced a fine run and shot from 20 yards at the other end that flew just wide.

Weymouth were now playing at a much higher tempo and it was clearly causing Grays problems but the visitors continued to look a constant threat on the break and on 70 minutes Cogan curled just over the left upright.

Kedwell then turned Chris Blackburn and had a shot blocked by Henderson and even when the ball ran loose O'Connor's rebound was thwarted by Challis.

The game completely opened up in the last quarter and after Kedwell was denied again by Henderson the Terras had a great chance when Bailey rose at the far post and headed Convery's cross back across goal. Weatherstone attempted an overhead kick that flew over but had he left it Coutts would have had a clear shot on goal from six yards.