Howard Newton scored his fortunate efforts either side of Matt Groves’ scrambled equaliser but the Terras have every reason to be pleased with their overall performance.

However, with 11 points now separating the Wessex Stadium-based outfit from the safety line, it appears to have come far too late for them.

Manager Jerry Gill was unable to make it due to a sickness bug that also struck down reserve boss Dave Kiteley and midfielder Simon Radcliffe, with chairman George Rolls taking a seat in the dugout to oversee proceedings.

Staines Town’s double-decker coach had to avoid the main road into Weymouth so took the 45-minute scenic route, meaning the game kicked off 15 minutes late.

When the match eventually started, Martin Slocombe (ankle), Radcliffe (ill), Jamie Frampton (tactical switch) and Luke Benbow (unable to travel) dropped out to be replaced by Scott Dixon, assistant player-boss Andy Harris, Josh Llewellyn and Jake Reid to form a more attacking 4-4-2 formation.

Staines lacked a little potency from their line-up with the absence of strikers Marc Charles-Smith and Ali Chaaban, who famously netted against Millwall in the FA Cup earlier this season.

Weymouth made a confident start and it was top scorer Reid who had the first effort on goal when he collected Harris’ neat pass, swivelled but shot meekly at visiting custodian Louis Wells.

After 17 minutes of Terras’ dominance, Staines replied when Howard Newton arrowed a shot just beyond the angle of Tim Sandercombe’s goal before Scott Brice was caught out by a quick throw-in and had to thank Cameron Mawer for snapping back as Gareth Risbridger broke away.

However, the Terras’ luck ran out from the resultant corner as Sandercombe could only punch as far as the edge of the box where Newton was waiting to drive in a shot that deflected off Jamie McGuinness, wrong-footing the home stopper as the ball headed into the net.

Andre Scarlett flashed another warning shot across goal just five minutes shy of the break but it was Weymouth, completely against the run of play, who levelled soon after.

Stephen Reed swung over a free-kick from the right that Brice and Groves went up for with a host of visiting players, including goalkeeper Wells, and it was the Terras’ right winger who got the final touch to divert the ball into the net from close range.

Newton should have put Town in front once more just seconds later, but did manage it in stoppage time at the end of the first half as his low shot deflected off Dixon, over Sandercombe and into the goal.

Reed opened the second period with a speculative shot from 35 yards but Scott Taylor should have extended the visitors’ lead when he latched on to Dean Thomas’ flick over the top, only to be denied by an onrushing Sandercombe.

At the other end, Reed’s free-kick fell at the feet of Brice, only for the defender’s toe-poked shot to be blocked by Wells, before Groves fired into the side netting.

Llewellyn found the other side netting after a lovely pass from Harris and McGuinness drove wide from 25 yards as Weymouth continued to ask questions of Staines in defence.

A Town breakaway should have ended with Newton’s hat-trick goal after exchanging passes with Taylor and guiding the ball beyond Sandercombe, but it was just past the left-hand post.

Sandercombe saved well from Leroy Griffiths and Rolls brought on striker Carl Foster for left-back Dixon, instructing his players to go to a 3-4-3 formation.

Another Reed corner caused mass panic in the penalty area before another cross from the left midfielder was put way over the crossbar by Llewellyn, under pressure from goalkeeper Wells, as time ran out for the gallant Terras.