FOREST GREEN ROVERS edged closer to safety after Andy Mangan rescued a point against struggling Weymouth.

Ex-Wales, Wimbledon and Cheltenham Town boss Bobby Gould took charge of the Terras for the first time and it seemed to have the desired effect as they stopped the rot of 11 straight defeats.

Cliff Akurang scored his first goal for Weymouth but his effort was wiped out early in the second half by Mangan.

Rovers’ Conal Platt lined up against his former employers.

The Terras made a positive start, but a mistake from Gavin Hoyte almost let the visitors in. A ball over the top was misjudged by the defender allowing Mangan a run at goal. However, Hoyte made a great recovery and rescued the situation with a last-ditch tackle.

The hosts responded well and went agonisingly close to scoring their first goal in seven games. A Kyle Critchell free-kick was pumped into the Rovers box, knocked down by Merella to Onibuje who could only watch as his volley crashed against the crossbar.

The intensity of the game dropped a notch and both sides were restricted to half-chances but the Terras started to take control of proceedings just past the half-hour.

Akurang set his captain James Coutts free but the midfielder, when faced with a one-on-one with Terry Burton, shot tamely at the visiting keeper. The rebound came the way of Akurang whose fierce strike found the left-post.

Just two minutes later though, Onibuje managed to dig out a deep cross right on the by-line and strike-partner Akurang climbed high to sneak a header in at the far post.

The home side should have made it 2-0 when a searching pass from Stephen Reed found Akurang bearing down on Burton’s goal but the goal-scorer could only find the side netting.

That miss proved costly as Forest Green equalised three minutes later. Ben Gill did superbly to head Alex Lawless’ volley off the line but from the resulting corner, which was initially cleared, Lawless was given a second bite of the cherry and delivered a pin-point cross to the unmarked Mangan who made no mistake from four yards.

After surviving a renewed effort from the away side, Weymouth were back on the offensive and two minutes after the midway point of the half, Merella was denied by a smart stop after Burton’s initial punch fell at the feet of the home midfielder.

Moments later substitute Cooke curled a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide of goal.

The visitors remained a threat and Platt went close with a volley right on the edge of Weymouth’s penalty area.

And Rovers were presented with a glorious chance to complete the comeback on 70 minutes. Home stopper Adam Legzdins came out of his goal to clear a long ball but only succeeded in slicing his kick with Mangan in close proximity, but the in-form striker skewed his effort high and wide.

The final opportunities of the game fell the way of Rovers but Lawless fired high from 30 yards and captain Darren Jones headed over from Lee Fowler’s last-gasp corner.

Weymouth: Legzdins, Mawer, Hoyte, Critchell, Collins, Gill, Reed, Coutts, Merella (Richardson 76), Onibuje (Cooke 47), Akurang (Hart 84). Subs not used: Evans, Gwinnett.

Forest Green: Burton, Lawless, Jones, Mangan, Platt, Smith, Preece, Fowler, McDonald, Ayres, Lloyd. Subs not used: Casey, Else, Palmer, Pass.