DALLAS’S IN A STATE AS TERRAS PAY THE PENALTY

STRIKER Andy Dallas smashed a second-half penalty against the crossbar as Weymouth missed the chance to take the notable scalp of Solihull Moors at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Dallas was felled in the box by Moors’ Nathan Cameron eight minutes into the second half but couldn’t make the midlanders pay in a game of few chances.

Moors, too, hit the bar through Kyle Howkins’ ninth-minute header but boss Jimmy Shan had no complaints in returning from the south coast with a share of the spoils.

“I thought we started well in the first five minutes, hit the crossbar, had some opportunities and asked some good questions of them in the final third,” Shan said.

“We gave them too much time in certain areas and they hurt us with forward runs. It’s a point on the road and a clean sheet.”

The closest Moors came from a whipped corner kick from Jordan Cranston, which was met by Howkins but the centre-back just couldn’t keep his header down and the relieved Terras were able to clear after the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.

The first shot on target came for the Terras on 22 minutes. Jake McCarthy played a long ball over the top which Calvin Brooks latched onto. Brooks steamed into the penalty area but his shot was straight at Ryan Boot.

Weymouth came agonisingly close again five minutes later, with Brooks again dictating the attack.

His ball released Ollie Harfied out wide, the left-back’s cross found Brooks coming in from the opposite flank but the wide man could only poke the ball inches wide of an open goal.

Still Weymouth kept coming with their big chance arriving on 53 minutes. Cameron brought down Dallas in the area, referee Aaron Jackson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot but the in-form striker smashed his effort against the underside of the crossbar and off the line to safety, amid suggestions it may have bounced over.

Dallas, looking to make amends, went close again on 71 minutes with a direct run, which saw him burst into the penalty area. He released the ball to Dallas on the byline but his first time shot was directly at Boot, who had guarded his near post well.

Solihull rallied late on and almost snatched it 12 minutes from time – Cranston’s curling effort brilliantly palmed away by Ethan Ross.

Terras boss Brian Stock said: “Im delighted, I felt that Solihull are a very good side and were going to cause us a lot more problems. The lads executed the plan really well, and although its only a point 0-0, there were a lot of positives from that game.”

On whether the ball crossed the line from the spot-kick, Stock added: “I’ve looked at it again and I don’t think it did cross.” ★★★★★