SOUTHEND UNITED 1

Powell 49

WEYMOUTH 1

McQuoid 40

WEYMOUTH claimed a good point at Roots Hall as Southend United were held to a 1-1 draw in their Vanarama National League encounter.

Weymouth took the lead in the 40th minute against the run of play when Josh McQuoid converted a brilliant assist from Omar Mussa.

Their lead lasted just four minutes of the second half when Callum Powell tucked home a clever pass from sub Matty Dennis.

Weymouth were grateful to Ross Fitzsimons for saving a Powell penalty after Jack Bridge was hauled down by QPR loanee Nathan Carlyle.

And the Terras held firm under sustained Southend pressure in stoppage time to record their 10th draw of the league season.

READ MORE: Southend United 1-1 Weymouth - how it happened

The draw, coupled with King's Lynn's 3-0 win at Woking, means Weymouth are now guaranteed to finish 22nd.

For the second game in a row, Weymouth manager David Oldfield made six changes to the side.

Taking no part in the squad were Sean Shields, Brandon Goodship and Tom Blair, while Tom Bearwish, Cameron Murray and Ollie Harfield all dropped to the bench after the 4-2 loss to Solihull on Saturday.

In came Ben Greenwood, Omar Mussa, Andy Robinson, Mannie Mampala, Matt Buse and Aaron Drewe.

Weymouth were looking to exact revenge on Southend after the 1-0 defeat in January, which ultimately cost previous boss Brian Stock his job.

They began in hopeful fashion with a long ball pumped towards Mampala, although Blues keeper Steve Arnold was out quickly to gather.

Weymouth then received a let-off in the ninth minute when Lewis Gard’s shot was blocked on the line by the attentive Greenwood before Harry Cardwell headed into the gloves of Ross Fitzsimons.

Having seen Southend enjoy the majority of play, Weymouth strung a chain of passes together in their best spell, only for Mussa to overhit a long ball forward.

One of Weymouth’s goalscorers from Saturday, Tyler Cordner, was forced to walk a tightrope for the remainder of the game as he picked up yellow on 15 minutes.

His caution was earned for bringing down Cardwell just shy of the area but the Blues could not make anything of the free-kick or the corner that followed.

Southend’s momentum was beginning to build, Weymouth’s cause not helped by Powell robbing Fitzsimons of possession and teeing up Cardwell for a wayward header.

Cardwell wasted another good opening seconds later when he delayed shooting from a one-on-one chance.

Will Atkinson was next to try his luck, heading downward at Fitzsimons, before Weymouth stunned the Roots Hall faithful.

Having barely threatened Arnold’s goal, it took a gem of a pass from Mussa to pick out McQuoid and the Weymouth skipper finished tidily for 1-0.

However, after taking the lead into the second half, the Terras lasted just four minutes before conceding.

Half-time sub for Southend, Matty Dennis, was the architect as his low ball picked out Powell to score a well-taken equaliser.

Southend immediately resumed their dominance, as seen in the first half, with Dennis blazing over from close range.

Will Atkinson then picked out Powell for a header at the back post and Weymouth were forced to act with their first change as the isolated Mampala came off for Akheem Rose.

Bearwish replaced Mussa looking for his third goal in four games but it was Southend who looked likelier to score as the Shrimpers won a penalty.

Nathan Carlyle was culpable, adjudged to have brought down Jack Bridge in the box.

It presented Powell with a chance for his second goal but Fitzsimons had other ideas, making a superb flying save to his left and then picking himself up quickly to keep out the rebound.

In a blow to the visitors, Terras’ goalscorer McQuoid went off with a shoulder injury, replaced by Xander McBurnie.

McQuoid’s physical pain mirrored the anguish of Powell soon after when the Shrimper fired at goal, only for his effort to roll out for a throw. He was later replaced by Jack Wood with five minutes to go.

Southend’s final change helped ratchet up the pressure on Weymouth in the closing stages, although sub Ahkeem Rose blasted a long-range shot over in the 89th minute.

Southend were throwing all their might at Weymouth in search of a winner as Fitzsimons was forced to punch clear before saving Harrison Neal’s shot from distance.

Weymouth had a brief opening on the counter when Joe Gubbins gave the ball away inside his own half but Rose and Greenwood could not fashion a chance.

From the cleared cross, Southend broke upfield and worked Fitzsimons again, this time Gubbins rifling at the keeper from 25 yards.

Weymouth survived one last nervy moment when Dennis headed down to Bridge, but the Terras cleared and were relieved to hear the final whistle to claim the tenth point of Oldfield’s tenure.

Southend: Arnold, Hobson, Bridge, Powell (Wood 82), Gard (Benton 68), Gubbins, Atkinson, Neal, Davies, Kensdale, Cardwell (Dennis 46). Subs not used: Andeng-Ndi, Dunne.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Greenwood, Cordner, Mussa (Bearwish 68), McQuoid (McBurnie 73), Mnoga, Robinson, Drewe, Mampala (Rose 61), Buse, Carlyle. Subs not used: Murray, Harfield.

Referee: Robert Whitton

Attendance: 5,323 (including 42 Weymouth fans)