Chairman George Rolls has called for that to be the way forward after Friday’s CVA success and the likes of Ollie Tribe, Jamie Frampton and Scott Dixon certainly proved that, but it was the display of Nottingham-based goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe that was the highlight.

Just over two months ago, the young custodian was being mocked for a dreadful showing against Basingstoke Town but performed at the complete opposite end of the scale against Thurrock on Satur-day, making several high-quality stops as he played out the game with a suspected broken thumb.

A minute’s silence was held in memory of former chairman Bill Bowering before the match started, but when it did there were three enforced changes for the Terras.

Out went Jamie McGuinness, Pierre Joseph-Dubois (both ill) and Andy Harris (knee) with John Lamb, Robin Nicholls and Shane Evans taking their positions.

With those three more experienced players missing it was perhaps no surprise that Thurrock forced five corners inside the opening 10 minutes.

It was a from another set-piece, a left-wing free-kick, that the Essex side fashioned their first chance, but Sandercombe flipped Kenny Clark’s header over the crossbar.

Leon McKenzie ghosted past the Terras’ shot stopper when running through, only for Tribe and Cameron Mawer to cover behind their number one and combine to clear the ball off the line.

Sandercombe made a point-blank block from Fola Orilonishe before Mawer slid in to deflect behind from David Bryant.

Pacey winger Matt Bodkin outstripped Dixon and forced another good save from Sandercombe after Thurrock broke quickly from a controversial free-kick before the same player was again frustrated by Weymouth’s custodian.

The Terras’ best chance of the first half actually came via a dodgy looking back pass that goalkeeper Joe Woolley did well to control high on his chest as the ball bounced menacingly towards the goal.

Nicholls did get the home team’s first shot away in the 38th minute but Woolley only had to gather easily after a deflection took all the sting out of it.

At the other end, Sandercombe starred again as he made his eighth save of the half to claw Reiss Gilbey’s shot behind.

Weymouth ended the half strongly forcing two corners late on, the second coming after Rob Swaine had just glanced Stephen Reed’s free-kick beyond the head of Mawer, who would have been certain to score.

After the Terras’ third goalless first half in their last four games, they actually started the second period on the front foot, although they were unable to create a clear-cut chance.

The best that fell their way was when Evans clipped the ball into Nicholls, whose brilliant first touch nearly took him away from the defence but Thurrock covered just in time.

That proved to be the midfielder’s last contribution as a niggling injury finally forced him off, but the Terras remained undeterred and Lamb screwed one just wide of the left-hand post.

The visitors looked as if they would finally break through when they ran clear, but Bodkin fluffed his lines before Dixon cleared a goal-bound header.

Bodkin fizzed a left-footer wide as Thurrock found themselves back in the ascendancy and substitute Jamie Doyle forced Sandercombe into another brilliant save with 14 minutes left to play.

Dixon blocked in front of goal, but Sandercombe’s best was to come as he tipped Gilbey’s effort to the side at full stretch.

With more than 92 minutes on the watch, few could have hoped for a Weymouth winner but Evans so nearly provided it when Reed’s corner reached him at the back post.

The former Bridport striker took a touch and drove the ball towards the bottom left-hand corner, only for Leon Lalite to stick a foot out and divert it behind before the referee blew his whistle to bring an end to a truly memorable Weymouth performance.