WEYMOUTH 2 MERTHYR TYDFIL 2 WEYMOUTH flattered to deceive again when they tossed away another two goal lead with a poor second half performance at the Wessex Stadium.

The confidence and composure of the first 45 was replaced by ineptitude and indecision after the break as the Terras saw another two home points disappear with Merthyr's injury-time leveller.

Isolated from his failing engine room and his increasingly hesitant defence in his roving role up front, boss Steve Claridge could do little to help his side recapture their earlier sparkle as the Welshmen rallied for a draw that had seemed a million miles away after the Terras stole the first half show.

When he did get possession, the Terras boss used all his old tricks to put goals on a plate for fellow front man Scott Partridge, only for the former Rushden and Diamonds to spurn the chances to settle Weymouth down again.

With home fans longing for Wessex favourite Mark Robinson to be brought in out of the cold of the dug-out, Claridge's 79th minute introduction of Kevin Gill for youngster John Lamb - largely anonymous after capping a good first half with another well-taken goal - only added to the sense of frustration on the terraces as they watched all the good work undone in the closing stages.

Surviving one heart-stopping early moment when the home defence was caught out by a long ball over the top and the gangly Cortez Belle got goalside before scuffing a poor shot across the face with only Jason Matthews to beat, the Terras soon took charge with Paul Buckle, Martin Barlow and Lee Philpott pulling all the strings.

Buckle had Martyrs' keeper Neil Thomas sprawling to save at his right hand post before Steve Tully's free-kick from out near the right hand touchline brought their first after 22 minutes.

The ball dropped among a forest of flailing arms and legs in a crowded area before Claridge managed to

dig it out of the ruck for Lamb to

fire into the top corner from 12 yards.

Claridge should have made it two almost immediately. Fouled out on the left by a lunging scissors tackle that earned Merthyr's Simon Heal a yellow card, Claridge was then unmarked six yards out when he headed Lee Philpott's free-kick wide of the target.

But that was soon forgotten when the Terras, by now well in control, added a second after 28 minutes. Claridge's flicked header put Partridge goal-side of the entire Merthyr defence and Gethin Jones, the youngster who spent a couple of months on loan at the Wessex last season when he was on Cardiff's books, sent him sprawling inside the box.

Referee Bernie Baker deemed it an accidental trip as Partridge cleverly cut across in front of Jones and there was no card. But a penalty it most definitely was and after plenty of practice on Tuesday, Tully's firmly-struck effort high to Thomas' right was precision personified.

That put the Terras in the comfort zone and Claridge nearly made it three when his downward header from a Partridge free-kick was acrobatically taken on the goal-line by Thomas.

The Merthyr stopper saved his side again two minutes into the second half with a brilliant tip-over from Buckle's eight yard header - but he should have been picking the ball out of his net minutes later when Claridge held off Jones and teed up Partridge superbly only for his shot to sail high over the terrace roof. Merthyr's only threat came from high balls to big men Belle and Jason Price and Jason Matthews did well to flick a Price header on to his bar and over after 56 minutes.

From the corner Weymouth's defence failed to pick up Jones and his far post header bounced inches wide of Matthew's upright.

With skipper Danny Carter's influence increasing , the visitors started to threaten down the left and when his cross found Chris Bale he was allowed time to turn and drill the ball just wide with Matthews beaten.

The warning went unheeded however and when Lee Philpott gave up the chase after Paul Keddle went past him to the line in the 64th minute, the Merthyr man whipped in a cross. Matthews did superbly to block Price's volley but was helpless when Belle smashed in the rebound.

Buckle and Partridge both had chances to turn the tide back in Weymouth's favour, Thomas doing well to deny the former while Partridge could have no excuses for failing to hit the target when Claridge had done all the spade work.

And then, after Keddle missed astonishingly from two yards in the 78th minute following some sloppy play in the Terras rearguard, came the inevitable in stoppage time. Belle broke on the right, his cross was fumbled by Matthews and a gleeful Heal pounced to net from close range.