FOREST GREEN nudged a point closer to Blue Square Premier safety, but will rue a slipshod first-half display, helping the hosts to their first point in 12 matches.

With ex-Cheltenham Town manager Bobby Gould at the helm for the first time, Weymouth went ahead through Cliff Akurang in the 33rd minute.

But Andy Mangan took his tally to 26 for the season, and missed an open goal, as the men from Nailsworth saved face after the break.

Jim Harvey was forced into one team change, Paul Lloyd replacing hamstring injury victim David Brown and lining up on the right side of a five-man midfield.

It was so nearly a fairytale start for Gould, Fola Onibuje striking the top of the crossbar in the sixth minute after latching on to Dominic Merella’s cutback.

Onibuje was partnered in attack by the equally muscular Akurang, and he ought to have done better than head over on 20 minutes.

Rovers managed their first meaningful effort five minutes later, Lee Fowler sending a dipping shot over the bar after some neat build-up play.

Still Weymouth looked the more dangerous outfit, and they almost went ahead moments before the opening goal when Terry Burton rushed out to block James Coutts’ shot and Akurang struck a post from the rebound.

They were not to be denied for long, Onibuje digging out a cross from the right for Akurang to nod home at the far post.

The visitors’ task should have become doubly difficult three minutes into the second half, as Akurang raced clear of a horribly square defence and screwed wide with only Burton to beat.

But Rovers were only denied a leveller by heroic defending as Conal Platt and Alex Lawless saw successive shots blocked.

Lawless initially failed to beat the first man from the resulting corner, but he made a better fist of the second attempt and floated in a delightful cross for Mangan to volley into the net and make it 1-1 on 51 minutes.

The Terras responded well, and Burton had to save with his legs to deny substitute Stephen Cooke.

At the other end, Platt was narrowly off target from the edge of the box and Mangan embarrassingly sliced wide of an empty net after home keeper Adam Ledzkins had completely missed his attempted clearance.

Curtis McDonald was foiled by a last-ditch challenge by Kyle Critchell, Lawless came close from 30 yards and the excellent Darren Jones almost nicked it at the death with a header.

Weymouth: A. Ledzkins; C. Mawer, K. Critchell, G. Hoyte, J. Collins; D. Merella (T. Richardson 77), B. Gill, S. Reed, J. Coutts; C. Akurang (C. Hart 84), F. Onibuje (S. Cooke 47); Subs not used: R. Gwinnett, S. Evans.

Forest Green: T. Burton; J. Smith, M. Preece, L. Ayres, C. McDonald; P. Lloyd, A. Lawless, D. Jones, L. Fowler, C. Platt; A. Mangan; Subs not used: P. Casey, J. Else, M. Palmer, T. Pass.

Referee: D. Sheldrake (Surrey)

Attendance: 1,183