WEYMOUTH’S impressive home record went down the drain as the 10-man Terras were sunk at a sodden Bob Lucas Stadium.

Going into Saturday’s game, the Terras were looking to extend their unbeaten home run to eight, but those hopes were washed away inside the opening four minutes as Ollie Tribe imitated keeper Tom Manley by using his arm to divert a Marvin Martin shot onto the woodwork.

The defender saw red, Joe Cole-man converted from 12 yards and the writing was on the wall.

Banbury raced into a four-goal lead – when really it could and should have been more – but to their credit, the hosts fought back and brought some respectability to the scoreline courtesy of an Alex Halloran double – his first goals of the season.

The second of which was an excellent chip over visiting stopper Joe Murrell.

The Terras, who remain eight points adrift of Zamaretto Premier Division safety, made three changes from the midweek Dorset Senior Cup win at Hamworthy United.

Ben Gerring returned from suspension, Rob Wolleaston overcame a knee problem while Mark Robinson came in at right-back.

Having made so much effort to ensure the match went ahead, the Terras were perhaps regretting their endeavour after a disastrous opening.

The warning signs came in the very first minute as Gerring was extremely fortunate not to concede a penalty following a mistimed challenge on Martin.

The United forward was not to be denied a second appeal when his goal-bound effort, after Manley’s clanger, was handled on the line by Tribe.

The home full-back was dismissed and Coleman confidently dispatched the spot-kick to add insult to injury.

Martin failed to take advantage of a free header moments later but the reprieve lasted just eight minutes as the Puritans doubled their advantage.

Manley did well to thwart Malachi Farquharson as the midfield man tried to meet Liam Hynes’ delivery but the danger remained and, in the same attack, David Staff side-stepped Robinson before curling a 20-yard effort beyond the Terras’ gloveman.

Declan Benjamin also tried his luck from distance, and was not far away, before the same man was denied by a smart hold from Manley.

United should have registered a third prior to the half-hour mark, only for Martin to blaze over having sprung the offside trap.

The visitors did not have to wait much longer and a third duly arrived 10 minutes before the break courtesy of Coleman, who found the bottom corner after breezing through a number of half-hearted challenges.

The hosts managed just one attempt at goal in the first half and it came in stoppage time – Murrell easily gathering from Wolleaston’s header as the heavens opened.

The tide failed to turn as Banbury continued to assert their dominance at the start of the second half, notching a fourth goal six minutes in.

Gerring failed to clear sufficiently and Martin fired in at the near post. Manley though, should have done more to keep the effort at bay.

Credit to the Terras, as they responded in the best possible manner. Warren Byerley drove in from the right and although he was halted by the visiting defence, the ball ran loose for Halloran to smash home.

The deficit was almost reduced further when a fierce, angled strike from Byerley rippled the side netting.

Gerring and Wolleaston also went close as the Terras enjoyed their best spell of pressure.

However, with their numerical advantage, Banbury remained a constant threat on the break and they would have added to their tally if Martin and then Hynes had been more clinical.

United’s poor finishing gave the Terras hope and they closed the gap courtesy of a fine piece of skill from Halloran.

The former Portland United man spotted Murrell off his line and delivered a superb lob from 35 yards.

But there was to be no late miracle, despite a much-improved second-half display, and Ban-bury, who were that evening due to hold their Christmas party on the south coast, got the festivities off to an early start with victory on their first-ever visit to the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Terras: Manley, Robinson, Tribe, Whyton, Gerring, Magookin (Litherland 54), Groves, Wolleaston, Wright (Beasley 77), Byerley, Halloran. Subs not used: Oldring, Ironside, Weeks.

Banbury: Murrell, Stanbridge (Oulton 79), Cray, Gordon, Learoyd, Farquharson, Coleham, Benjamin (Nayler 87), Martin, Hynes, Staff. Subs not used: Sambrook.

* The Wessex Fantasy Football committee have issued a statement to confirm that they will fund striker Matthew Wright’s third month on loan at the club, when, as expected, the deal goes through. They will also pay the December wages of Richard Groves and as much of Warren Byerley’s as they can.