WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley admitted that his side are “up there to be shot down” after they drew 1-1 at home to Banbury United on Saturday.
The Terras are third in the table and have secured their spot in the play-offs and the Weymouth manager said that the pressure is on them.
Molesley said: “Teams have got a free hit at us, they are more the underdogs against us now so we have got to deal with being where we are, we are up there to be shot down so we have got to rise to that challenge and deal with it.”
Brandon Goodship gave Weymouth the lead in the 24th minute from a shot close to the penalty spot, but Ricky Johnson equalised for the Puritans.
Molesley said: “Banbury are a good side in our league, for the last two years they have been up and around the play-offs.”
Weymouth dominated the second half, with Abdulai Baggie, Goodship, Charlie Davis and Jake McCarthy all having efforts on Jack Harding’s goal in search of three points.
Despite their efforts, Banbury went close to scoring with Tom Winters and Jack Self having efforts in quick succession with home keeper Will Dennis saving from the former before Thiago Caze Da Silva blocked the follow- up effort from the latter.
Molesley said: “It was a frustrating afternoon on reflection really. We never really got going or stamped any real clear authority on the game.
“It is a difficult one really because we have been in a good place, we have been playing well lately and we just stumbled a bit.
“We got ourselves in the lead, it was quite a difficult afternoon. It was quite a bobbly pitch in the end, quite dry and bouncing around so it was hard to get any clear possession for either team.”
Despite the disappointing nature of the draw Molesley said: “We never really got out game going but having said that we have not lost.”
Weymouth looked dangerous and were creating good opportunities but struggled to fire the ball through the Puritans’ defence.
Molesley said: “It was just one of those days, we got into their box we created a few opportunities, they had a few blocks, Baggie had shots flying just past the post a couple of times.
“We were dangerous, we showed flashes of ourselves.”
Weymouth now face a two games in three days next week as they travel away to play-off rivals Kettering (7.45pm), who beat Hitchin Town 4-1 on Saturday, followed by a trip to King’s Langley (3pm) on Saturday.
Molesley said: “There is still everything to play for and there are big games coming up and we did not quite get to our standards we hold ourselves to.
“We are going to go away and work hard and try to come up with some ideas.”
The win for Kettering on Saturday was one of two for Weymouth’s play-off rivals as Hereford beat Bishop’s Stortford 1-0 while Slough Town and King’s Lynn Town fought out a 2-2 draw.
Molesley said: “We have got to freshen ourselves up as another game will come again.
“We cannot get too down about it, yes we were not as good as we wanted to be today but we turn our attentions to Thursday and we will try to make a few things better.”
