The Terras took some time to settle against a Lewes side who were also relegated from the Blue Square Premier but had held on to the backbone of last season’s side.

Although Rikki Banks in the home goal had to gather Matt Townley’s second minute long throw, it was the Terras’ defence that was tested first.

Twice in the space of a minute Weymouth conceded free-kicks within the danger area.

First Joe Keehan’s header, after William Peauroux’s kick was not cleared, was too high and Lewes made a dreadful mess of an indirect kick after Ryan Harrison had picked up Martin Slocombe’s back pass.

The end result saw Dan Beck’s shot charged down and cleared.

In the 10th minute Matt Groves was fouled just outside the penalty area but Andy Harris’ effort flew well over the crossbar.

Keehan and David Wheeler – who was lively throughout – combined to provide Beck with a shooting opportunity for the Rooks, but his effort was woefully off target.

The visitors had a chance to take the lead in the 25th minute after a patient build up involving Townley, Groves and Harris ended with Matt Cooper stooping low to head the latter’s cross goalwards, but Banks was able to make a good save.

As the half progressed Wheeler and Keehan both sent efforts wide of the target, for Lewes, while an excellent four-man move, which flowed from their own penalty area, ended with Dan Royce’s shot being scrambled clear.

For Weymouth the only effort of note came from Joe Arnold who latched on to Harrison’s long clearance, but his 30-yard drive was well wide.

The second half was a minute old when Chris Breach headed Royce’s free-kick over the crossbar.

Weymouth then began to find space with their passing football with one such move ending when Dean Smith was upended on the edge of the area. Harris took the kick which was only half cleared to Groves, but the Terras man saw Banks make another competent stop.

Lewes came back at the visitors with Royce and Keehan firing wide and Harrison had to react quickly to save from Wheeler.

In the 61st minute Weymouth broke the deadlock. Danny Bennett and Arnold did well to put Matt Cooper clear in space some 20 yards out and the ex-Team Bath man fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.

The Terras’ joy did not last long, unfortunately, as almost straight from the restart Beck was allowed to get behind the defence, meeting Keehan’s cross and scoring with a shot over Harrison.

This score boosted the home side, who surged forward in search of the deciding goal, but the visitors’ defence, superbly marshalled by skipper Kyle Critchell, held firm.

When the defence was breached in the 73rd minute Harrison pulled off the save of the match to deny Beck a second.

Lewes thought they had settled matters a minute later as Sam Crabb poked home a rebound, following another superb Harrison stop, but the assistant referee wiped the strike out with an offside flag.

Harrison had to go full stretch to stop a fierce effort from Crabb and then tip a Breach header over the crossbar.

Weymouth’s last chance fell to Bennett, after he was put through by Matt Thorne, but he shot wide under pressure from Breach, who had a handful of his blue shirt.

Overall this was a fighting performance by Matty Hale’s men which resulted in a well deserved point, although there may be some disappointment over the way the equaliser was conceded less than a minute after Cooper’s strike.