LOOKING back at the second half of last season still hurts Terras’ boss Jason Matthews, but he believes, as a manager, he has learnt a huge amount after his side’s promotion hopes were dashed.

Going on an invincible run to reach the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division summit, Weymouth ran out of steam last term and finished outside the play-off spots, a drop which deeply hurt the player-manager.

But this time around, in his second full season at the helm, Matthews realises that to find success at this level you have to be able to adapt and, more importantly, come back stronger.

“I think I learnt massive amounts about this league and about management as a whole from last season,” he told Echosport.

“We weren’t consistent at the end of last season and fell short which was really frustrating. We have to draw a line under that, move on, and hope we have learnt our lessons.

“We made great strides and failed at the end but I feel positive going into this season and I feel we have a stronger squad.

“We have to aim to make the play-offs and go one better. My aim is to improve on every season that I’m in charge.

“There are a few things I will be doing slightly differently. I have put a little more pressure on myself and I need to improve again.”

The Terras played some scintillating football at times last term, a trait that easily made them one of the most exciting teams in the division to watch and also helped them lift the Dorset Senior Cup.

But, while Matthews’ philosophy is to play attractively, he is fully aware that it is not always going to get him the results he craves.

He added: “There needs to be a plan B and I feel with the personnel we have now we have the ability to slightly mix it up. I think that’s a big difference between this season and last season.

“We have brought in three new faces across the back and made ourselves slightly bigger. We want to play in a way where we are slightly harder to beat.

“It’s probably not the flair players that people all want but, as we found out last year, we can’t play loads of those in the league we are in. We have to do a job this year and we will be going about our business of being harder to beat.

“Bringing in players like Mark Molesley will give us some flair, as will Chris Shephard when he is back fit and we still have the best striker in the league in Stewart Yetton.”

On the subject of strikers, Matthews was keen to hail his new assistant-manager Tim Sills, who he believes has taken the fresh responsibility in his stride.

“Tim has been brilliant for me,” he added. “He was ultra-professional as a player last year. This year he has the chance to be a little more vocal, what he says the lads listen to. I think we have a good partnership.”

Looking at the Terras’ competition this term, Matthews thinks the level of standard in the league will rise.

“Dunstable seem to be spending and have signed a fair few players. Poole will be tough to beat and Dorchester will be far more competitive,” he said.

“Hungerford have signed more forwards and are always tough to beat, it’s a tough place to go. All the teams are competitive, it will come down to who is the most consistent."

“The clubs that have come in are big non-League clubs as well. Kettering are a big club, Merthyr are a big club who will have home advantage on a 3G pitch.

“We will have a clearer picture after 10 games on where everyone is at.”