WEYMOUTH manager David Oldfield praised the Terras’ defending and resilience after holding on to earn a 1-1 draw at Southend United.

Josh McQuoid scored his ninth goal of the season to put Weymouth into a 40th-minute lead against the run of play.

Callum Powell then equalised four minutes into the second half and later had a penalty saved by Ross Fitzsimons.

Weymouth withstood heavy pressure from the Shrimpers in the closing stages to close out the draw.

Despite picking up the tenth point of Oldfield’s tenure, the Terras are now guaranteed to finish 22nd after King’s Lynn beat Woking 3-0.

READ MORE: Southend United 1-1 Weymouth - match report

Oldfield told Echosport: “It is a good result, the boys defended and had to show some resilience and character to come through.

“We need to put it into perspective in terms of how well we did in the game. We certainly showed the resilience that we needed to.

“We defended crosses better, made a good penalty save and rode our luck slightly at times on the back of a good goal that we scored.

“We didn’t have enough to hold for a clean sheet but we held on in the second half, surrendered quite a lot of territory.”

On McQuoid’s finish, Oldfield added: “It was a good team goal, the boys worked the ball well.

“It was an excellent through ball and a really good run off the ball first and foremost, and a nice finish from Josh too.

“It was a good goal, it came against the run of play a little bit and we had to resist and defend.

“Southend with one or two opportunities were a little bit wasteful but from our point of view it was good to get our noses ahead and it gave us something to defend.

“Again, we didn’t manage to do so for long enough but after that we managed to show resilience and come out with a point.”

Oldfield revealed he had no complaints over the penalty decision, given against Nathan Carlyle for bringing down Jack Bridge in the box.

Oldfield said: “I’ve seen it back and it looks like there may have been some contact or a tug of the shirt.

“It’s not one that I’m going to worry about particularly and Ross made a good save.”

Point aside, Weymouth did struggle to make an impression up front with Mannie Mampala often looking isolated.

Oldfield added: “Sometimes we do feel or look a little bit laboured going forward and there is some isolation of the central striker or strikers.

“We need to make sure we play with a purpose in terms of trying to get ourselves in forward positions – it gives us opportunities to create more chances.

“I think the boys can play. We do want to be on the ball, we have to pass the ball – there is no doubt about that.

“We must be a team that’s willing to have the ball but we need to make sure that we’re playing with a purpose as well.

“Sometimes we don’t do that well enough or get enough bodies forward. It’s difficult when you’re under the cosh and having to defend for large periods.

“Overall, it was good team effort.”