WEYMOUTH caretaker-manager Alan Lewer felt aggrieved after conceding an injury-time goal which condemned his side to defeat at Mansfield.

The Terras took the lead from the spot on 20 minutes through Stuart Beavon but in the second half the Stags fought back and after Adnan Ahmed had equa-lised Jonathan D’Laryea netted an injury-time winner to break the visitors’ hearts.

Lewer said: “We went one up through a penalty and to be fair their lad should have been sent off. He brought down Pierre Joseph-Dubois and was the last man but we all have off days and he stayed on.

“Pierre then should have put us two up and to be fair we created quite a few chances in the first half. In fact I don’t think our keeper Danny Knowles had a save to make.

“Then in the second half they scored with their first real attempt before going on and getting the winner in the 90th minute, which was very disappointing because we definitely deserved something from the game.”

Lewer’s small squad has been decimated in recent weeks and in the absence of injured duo Stephen Reed and Jordan Collins he was forced to call-up youngsters Ollie Tribe and Ryan McKechnie, who both took seats on the bench.

Lewer added: “Both Ryan and Ollie are only 16 and when you think they were able to bring on the likes of Jason Lee and Michael Blackwood it shows how difficult things are at the moment. James Coutts returned from injury and came on for 20 minutes but with Adam Bygrave and Scott Doe both suspended for the Torquay United game on Boxing Day you can see what we are up against.

“However, we will keep pressing on and continue to give our all while we wait for players to return.”

Weymouth are now 11th in the Blue Square Premier, nine points adrift of the play-offs and 10 points clear of the bottom four.

* Weymouth chief executive Gary Calder admitted last night that a takeover of the club is now nearing completion. Current owner Malcolm Curtis held talks with the Terras Trust and former director Dave Higson last week and it appears those negotiations have been successful. Calder said: “The talks are at a very advanced stage and it is now just a case of watch this space.”