Weymouth went into the Zamaretto Premier Division clash as huge underdogs but by half-time they looked well on course to defying the odds thanks to goals from Warren Byerley and Ben Gerring.

Jamie McGuinness was then denied a third by an offside flag before a 14-minute blitz, which was triggered by a stunning 30-yard effort by substitute Bradley Gray, turned the tables in the most dramatic of circumstances as Salisbury City went on to win 3-2.

For Terras’ boss Ian Hutchinson, it was a bitter pill to swallow after his side had acquitted themselves so well for over an hour.

He said: “I am totally devastated for the players. We played five across the midfield and one up top and in the first half every single one of them was outstanding.

“We went into the break 2-0 up and we thoroughly deserved it but goals change games and in the second half we had a third disallowed before they got one back 10 minutes later.

“Had Jamie’s effort been given that would have killed the game off but it wasn’t and now, after all the effort and commitment the players put in, I just feel bitterly disappointed.

“Their lad spanked one in from 25 yards and then they got a penalty after a scramble in the box which ended with Matt Oldring clipping one of their lads and bringing him down. They then went on and got the third shortly after and that was it.

“We always knew this season would be a long journey of ups and downs, and now we must just go again. There were a lot of positives to take out of tonight and it is up to Andy Mason and I to pick the boys up again.

“A lot of people expected us to come here and get a good hiding but we took them all the way and with a bit more luck would have come away with at least a draw if not the win.

“The lads will learn from this and they will come back stronger as individuals and as a team, I am certain of that. They will be better players for it and they will learn from the experience.”

Weymouth flooded the midfield and starved City of space with Byerley working his socks off up front. The ex-Dorchester Town forward was eventually rewarded on 29 minutes when he struck from close range to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Gerring then doubled the advantage seven minutes later with a fine header from a free-kick from Richard Groves as a shell-shocked City stumbled into the interval.

Then came the game’s turning point on 66 minutes when McGuinness followed up a rebound and found the net only to have the effort ruled out for offside.

It was a huge decision and when Gray beat Tom Manley from outside the box with a blockbuster on 76 minutes it soon became clear that it was going to prove pivotal.

Oldring’s infringement in the box enabled Gray to level on 89 minutes before the Terras cracked under the pressure again just 60 seconds later when ex-Torquay United striker Ben Joyce got the winner from close range in the final minute.

Hutchinson added: “Warren has that bit of know-how. He has been around the game for a while now, he is strong, and he got his just rewards with the goal. Richard then put a great ball in for Ben and to be fair the back four were solid and compact, and looked organised throughout.

“Even at the death we managed to keep our shape but in the end we were just unfortunate. It is hard to take but we will come back stronger for it.”