Terras denied

Following goalless draws in their opening two fixtures, the Terras went wild when the ex-Oxford United midfielder volleyed them into the lead in the first half but they failed to grab a second and after the break Harry Harding made them pay with a fine strike from 25 yards.

City could well have gone on and claimed all three points towards the end but a fine save from Tom Manley and some poor finishing ensured the spoils were shared.

After last Thursday’s poor attacking display against Swindon Supermarine, it was perhaps no surprise to see Terras’ boss Ian Hutchinson juggle his attacking options with Matteo King, Warren Byerley and new signing Pierre Joseph-Dubois all being handed starts.

Jamie McGuinness replaced Matt Oldring at right back behind King, while Byerley and Joseph-Dubois were preferred up front to Jules Emati-Emati and Sam Charles, who dropped to the bench.

Another new face in the Terras’ squad was ex-Portland United keeper Nick Carroll. He was included on the bench instead of Ashley Weeks, who was given a run out in the reserves.

A lively start to the contest saw the Terras break down the right on five minutes through McGuinness. He laid the ball back to King, whose first time delivery flew across the six-yard box but unfortunately for the hosts Joseph-Dubois and Byerley were caught on their heels when they really should have been gambling to get on the end of what was a fine cross.

City were showing some good touches in possession but the Terras were by far the more threatening side and on 14 minutes they took advantage of some sloppy defending to break the deadlock.

Oxford right-back Jack Mills failed to deal with a long pass pumped in behind him and when Groves charged him down the ball fell to Byerley in the box. The ex-Dorchester Town striker’s first touch made the angle more acute but when his shot ricocheted up into the air off the body of on-rushing keeper Richard Knight there was Groves to volley in the rebound.

It was a goal that owed a lot to sheer endeavour and it certainly instilled some confidence into the Terras who began to venture forward with more belief.

Skipper Simon Radcliffe was the next to threaten when he picked up Michael Hector’s loose pass. The winger linked up with Joseph-Dubois twice before racing into the area and having a low drive saved by Knight at the near post.

City were now completely on the back foot and they nearly conceded a second on 22 minutes when a corner straight from the training ground saw King head Radcliffe’s near-post delivery just inches over the top.

Oxford were clearly struggling to pick up at set-pieces and from the next two corners the impressive Sam Clarke nearly made them pay with headers at the far post. The first sailed over while the second cannoned off the top of the bar.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Harding was looking Oxford’s biggest threat and he provided a fine cross to the far post on 38 minutes, which saw Liam Malone strike a sweet volley that was well blocked by Scott Dixon.

City left-back Tommy Kinch then pole-axed King close to the halfway line and somehow escaped a booking. The tackle was high and late but referee Adrian Tranter thought a stiff talking to was appropriate punishment, much to the home fans’ disbelief.

The Poole official then failed to notice Dave Savage deliberately pull back Joseph-Dubois when the Terras’ forward was through on goal. It looked a certain free-kick but Tranter waved away the appeals.

As the half-time whistle sounded Weymouth looked well in the groove but after the break the tempo slowed and that played into City’s hands.

Faulkner went close when he just failed to get a toe on another dangerous cross from Harding before the visitors levelled with a stunning strike on 53 minutes.

And predictably it was that man Harding that produced the goods. McGuinness failed to get tight enough to the tricky winger who was allowed to switch the ball on to his favoured side and unleash a right-footed curler that caught Manley on his heels and dipped into the top-right corner.

It was a fantastic effort that could have been followed by a second shortly after when Elliott Sandy shot wide of the far post after a luck ricochet had seen the ball fall invitingly into his path.

Byerley and Groves replied with efforts from long range but it was City that continued to threaten towards the end and after Mills had struck wide, following substitute Bradley Magookin’s failure to clear, Mark Janes had a header saved at point-blank range by Manley.

The visitors could smell the three points and continued to pour forward in the dying minutes but a very weary looking Weymouth managed to hold on.

Weymouth: Manley, McGuinness, Dixon, Clarke, Gerring, Mawer, Groves, King (Charles 78), Radcliffe (Magookin 83), Joseph-Dubois, Byerley. Subs not used: Carroll, Oldring, Emati-Emati.

Oxford: Knight, Mills, Kinch, Savage, Clarke, Hector, Peters (Janes 59), Malone, Faulkner (Holman 76), Sandy, Harding. Subs not used: Barcelos, Davis.