A SHELL-SHOCKED Steve Claridge still couldn't believe the Terras had thrown away another two home points when he finally emerged from the locked dressing room 45 minutes after the final whistle in Saturday's 2-2 stalemate with Merthyr Tydfil.

"I don't know how we only managed to draw - it just beggars belief that we managed to do it again," said a visibly distraught Claridge whose side also led Bath 2-0 at the break on Tuesday before drawing 3-3.

"I thought we had learned a lesson from Tuesday but obviously not."

Claridge's disbelief was understandable. His side had coasted to a 2-0 lead against a young, injury-hit Welsh side who looked out of their depth in the first half. But after missing another half dozen chances to bury their visitors, the Terras' sloppy defending let them back in the game with their equaliser coming in the second minute of stoppage time.

"We are not as good as we thought we are," blasted Claridge. "We can't score and we can't defend and that is why you get results like we've had today.

"We had a fabulous first half and all we had to do was play like that in the second and the game is dead and buried. But this is the second time in a week I am saying the same things so obviously they haven't learned the lesson.

"We were defending too deep and people weren't doing their jobs. We had five one-on-ones and we haven't scored from any of them and it's just not good enough.

"Scott Patridge had three one-on-ones and Paul Buckle had two great chances and if they score those the game's over."

The Terras boss said his players had to pick themselves up and start taking responsibility for their actions.

"We have to start again because although we are seven games unbeaten we are four points behind what we should be and that is very disappointing because the top four or five aren't going to drop many home points."