WEYMOUTH manager Warren Feeney stressed the Terras “can’t be soft” as promotion hopefuls Maidstone United claimed a 1-0 victory at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Raphe Brown’s 26th-minute free header was the match-winner for a Stones side who could have buried the game before half-time had goalkeeper Will Buse not made a string of saves.

Weymouth enjoyed the better of the second half but could not make their promise tell, amplified when star forward Brandon Goodship pulled a penalty well wide on the hour.

Adding to Weymouth’s woe, experienced defender Calvin Brooks was controversially sent off for an alleged elbow and could face a three-game ban.

Feeney’s men remain 12 points from safety, have failed to win in 13 home league games this season and have now lost five straight matches in all competitions.

Statistics aside, Feeney was pleased with how Weymouth competed against a Maidstone team now in third place.

He said: “I thought we started very well against a top team. First 20-25 minutes we were on the front foot but we’ve got to learn to manage situations in games.

“It was a poor goal to give away and the next 15-20 minutes our heads dropped. It’s probably a performance that sums it up all season, which I can’t have.

“We came in at half-time, you’ve a good chance to get yourself back in the game. I’m not going to be critical of Goody because he’s a great servant to this football club.

“Everyone misses penalties and he’s come in and apologised. We’re not in (this) place at this moment just because he missed a penalty, so we’ve got to rally round him and pick our heads up.

“It was a good performance in the second half but at the end of the day we’ve come away with a defeat.”

On the goal, Feeney said: “We can’t amble out and then the second phase is the most dangerous. As you’re running out you’ve got to make sure you’ve got a man. We didn’t and took a sucker punch.

“There’s plenty of time, 70 minutes, to get back in the game. I don’t know what it is. I said to them I can see why we are where we are. We can’t be soft.

“They responded well and there were enough chances in the second half, ricochets, picking up second balls but the hardest thing in football is putting the ball in the back of the net and we didn’t do it.

“The hardest thing to get in the team is goalscorers. No disrespect to my boys but you’ve got (Shaq) Coulthirst coming on for them and (Aaron) Blair up front.

“That’s why they’ll be competing, but I don’t think there was anything separating a full-time team to a part-time team. It’s confidence and being ruthless.”

Weymouth signed Harrison Day on loan from Dagenham just five hours before kick-off, although the striker was starved of service in his 54 minutes.

Feeney said: “The kid only got in at half two, he jumped straight in the car and drove all the way down from London.

“I knew he was never going to last, but the important thing was to get him minutes. He’s a goalscorer and we’ve got to give him that service.”

On Brooks’ red card, the ex-Northern Ireland forward said: “The ref admitted he made a couple of mistakes, but they cost us.

“Calvin, I’m not 100 per cent sure he’s caught him. There was a lot of noise after and the ref’s made a decision. It’s one we’ve got to take.”

Weymouth proceed on Saturday at home to fellow strugglers Enfield in what Feeney believes is the first in a series of must-win games.

“They’re all (must-win),” he insisted.

“There’s 19 games to go and the next month is a big month for us. Any three points is massive. It’s one we’ve got to win.”