The Boxing Day showdown, watched by 2,163 fans, lacked quality but both sides made up for that with a wealth of commitment and passion.

The Magpies created the better openings on a poor surface while the Terras’ best chance, converted by Matt Groves, was ruled out for an alleged push.

Defeat would have been harsh on the hosts who were denied the opportunity to avenge last month’s FA Trophy humiliation by a resolute rearguard.

Dorchester named an unchanged line-up from the one that defeated Hampton & Richmond Borough three weeks ago, meaning new signings Jules Emati-Emati and Nathan Walker were confined to the bench.

The Terras meanwhile, made three changes from their last outing – the 1-0 Trophy defeat to Salisbury a fortnight ago.

Scott Bennett and Pierre Joseph-Dubois came in for the departed duo David Obaze and Jake Reid while Stephen Reed replaced Jordan Rose in midfield.

After a tenacious opening, with some tough tackling setting the tone of the afternoon, the hosts were the first side to test either keeper.

Former Terra Kyle Critchell was fouled on the left-hand side of the visitors’ half, Ian Selley swung in the subsequent set-piece and a looping header from Ryan Moss was tipped wide by Weymouth gloveman Ryan Harrison.

Harrison then appeared to kick out at Dorchester’s Matt Groves in the aftermath and was perhaps fortunate to escape with only a ticking off from referee Ben Knight.

The resultant corner was delivered by Ryan Hill and missed by Harrison but Critchell could only head wide of goal.

Tempers flared once again in the 17th minute when another corner from Hill was directed at the near post and home striker Groves tried to force the ball over the line with Harrison and a number of Weymouth defenders for company.

A melee broke out and after the dust had settled, Critchell, former Magpie Simon Radcliffe and ex-Terra and now county town caretaker-boss Ashley Vickers all entered the referee’s notebook.

More bookings arrived just past the half-hour as Harrison and Magpie Groves, who had been at each other all game, engaged in a bout of handbags.

The first half was lacked any real cutting edge and the closest the away side came to carving out an opening was in the 37th minute.

Joseph-Dubois tried set strike partner Josh Llewellyn free but his pass was over hit slightly and Regan Coward in the home goal was always favourite to win the race. A weak free-kick from Reed three minutes into the second half handed the visitors their first effort on target but the Magpies, venturing straight up the other end, went even closer immediately after.

A 25-yard effort from Steve Devlin looked to be heading wide but a wicked deflection off the back of Bennett forced a good stop from an alert Harrison.

The Terras thought they had opened the scoring just a minute later, only to see Groves’ header disallowed.

Joseph-Dubois refused to give up on a lost cause and managed to nick ball off the toe of Coward, who failed in his attempt to see it out, to leave the home keeper stranded.

Luckily for the Magpies a great block from Hill denied the Frenchman but the loose ball fell for Radcliffe and he delivered a pin-point cross that was headed home by Groves.

However, the match official spotted a push by the Weymouth winger, on his marker Neil Martin, and the effort was chalked off.

The Terras were beginning to force the issue so Dorchester introduced another ex-Weymouth man in the form of Crittenden, for his first competitive action since October, in an attempt to turn the tide.

The switch seemed to give the hosts a much-needed lift and moments later Harrison did well to hold on to a swerving drive from Devlin.

With 15 minutes to go a clearing header from Terras’ skipper Scott Brice lacked distance and fell invitingly for Mark Jermyn on the edge of the box.

But Brice’s counterpart could not keep his volley down.

The Magpies were now in the ascendancy and two brave blocks from Brice and then Chris Allen denied Jermyn and Critchell respectively after the duo were set up by home substitute Jules Emati-Emati – making his competitive debut for the county town outfit.

The final action of the game saw Crittenden flash a 20-yard shot narrowly over the top, meaning both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.