After conceding 17 goals in their opening six games, the Terras showed huge improvements at the back but the visitors kept piling on the pressure and got their reward with a last-gasp header from Gasson at the far post following a corner from ex-Weymouth midfielder Shaun Wilkinson.

Terras’ boss Matty Hale made three changes to the starting line-up that began last Friday’s 3-0 defeat at Weston-Super-Mare, drafting in himself, Jordan Rose and new-signing Josh Klein-Davies for Matt Townley, Dean Smith and Matt Cooper.

Townley and Cooper had to be content with spots on the bench while Smith missed out through injury. Also amongst the substitutes was Ben Reiffer, who replaced young striker Tyler Sibbick to provide another midfield option. Meanwhile, there were a few familiar faces in Havant’s squad with Wilkinson and former Dorchester Town duo Wes Fogden and Steve Hutchings all being included in the first XI. Another ex-Terra, Luke Nightingale, began on the bench.

Despite plenty of endeavour from the home side it was the visitors that looked the more threatening side in the opening exchanges with Wilkinson testing keeper Ryan Harrison from long range and Hutchings heading over from a corner.

Fogden then sent a curler from 20 yards just wide of the far post as Weymouth continually put themselves under pressure by failing to keep possession.

A positive moment then arrived for the Terras on 10 minutes when Klein-Davies showed good understanding with his new striker partner by flicking a ball on to Jake Reid, who fired wide across the face of goal from an acute angle.

However, despite that little bit of respite, Havant continued to ask questions of the Weymouth defence and shortly after Steve Walker had fired off target following a long throw-in, Hutchings got past David Obaze with ease only to blaze over the top when he really should have scored.

Manny Williams, the away side’s top scorer, then had a 25-yard drive saved by Harrison before the Terras responded with an effort from Matt Groves who failed to make a clean connection with a volley at the far post following a deep corner from the hardworking Hale.

That seemed to give the hosts a lift and on 22 minutes a fine pass from Rose found Reid who turned swiftly and then let fly with a thunderous effort from outside the box which Aaron Howe was forced to push over the bar.

Suddenly Weymouth were showing more belief and by half-time there was not much between the two teams with Havant clearly frustrated by the fact that they had failed to capitalise on their early pressure.

The away side set a high tempo at the start of the second half and went close early on when Wilkinson’s cross into the box saw Hutchings attempt an overhead kick only to see his effort fall harmlessly over the bar.

Townley replaced Hale on 57 minutes but Weymouth were still lacking a cutting edge as Havant continued to look the more likely side to break the deadlock.

However, 10 minutes later, a long ball in behind the visiting defence caused problems as Klein-Davies ran through only to poke the ball past the onrushing Howe and wide of the target.

It was a glorious chance and just moments later the Terras were nearly punished when Williams struck a powerful effort which Harrison did well to beat out at his near post.

In the final 20 minutes, Havant began to pin the hosts in their own half and an in-swinging corner from Wilkinson to the far post very nearly found the net only to be headed off the line by Slocombe.

The full back then went up the other end and delivered a fantastic ball into the box from a free-kick, which flicked off a defender’s head and agonisingly flew past the left-hand upright.

Havant then hit back with some late pressure and after substitute Mustafa Tiryaki had an effort pushed wide Gasson popped up with a towering header from Wilkinson’s corner to snatch the three points in the final minute.