STEVE Claridge blamed a lack of discipline by ten-man Weymouth for surrendering a two goal lead in a fiery 3-3 draw with Bath City last night.

The Terras looked all set to claim top spot in the Dr Martens Premier Division when the player boss and a Steve Tully penalty fired them into a 2-0 interval lead at the Wessex Stadium.

But after defender Mark Kenway was dismissed on 58 minutes for shoving Scott Hendy, Bath strike force Steve Tweddle and Dan Cleverley fired a rapid three goal blitz to leave Claridge's side

grateful to a late Tully penalty for rescuing them a point.

The ex-Portsmouth boss said: "We were absolutely fantastic for half an hour and were cruising to a win before Mark's sending off.

"He has shown a naivety beyond belief in his actions and that indiscipline has cost us the game and, with Nuneaton only drawing, a place at the top of the league, it's as simple as that.

"Bath are a horrible side who started to kick a few people because they're not as good as us which was clear to see before it turned nasty. Unfortunately their tactics worked because they got a draw which they should never have got.

"We're going to have to put up with that sort of intimidation over the coming months it seems and it is our job to rise above it.

He added: "We lost our way in the second half and when they went ahead, with a fantastic strike, we looked down and out with only ten men on the park

"But we got back level very quickly to get a point but, having said that, it should never have come to that."

Claridge was fuming with Bath defender Matt Coupe for clattering him with an early X-rated challenge, which left him hobbling and set the tone for the rest of the night.

"It all started to get out of hand after that challenge. The referee did okay on the whole but he should have just sent him off for that.

"We were two nil up at the time and he's gone into that challenge with every intention of breaking my leg. I could barely run for 15 minutes and I could have been badly injured.

"If he had been sent off, there wouldn't have been any problems and the game wouldn't have deterirated after that."

He added: "Mark's sending off was the right decision but he wasn't going to hurt the bloke by shoving him, where as the tackle was nasty yet he only received a booking.

"I'm so frustrated because we should be clear at the top of the league tonight. If we are serious about challenging then we need to be beating teams like Bath at home."