Report

ONLY last week, Weston enjoyed a purple patch, picking up seven from nine league games, but in the FA Trophy third qualifying round, it all went wrong with the squad suffering a deplorable loss of form as they failed against Salisbury, who avenged their league defeat at Woodspring Park back in August.

Weston were without both their regular full backs, Jamie Price and Martin Slocombe, both suspended, and although they had loan signing Mark Preece from Bath City in their back four, their midfield never came to grips with their Salisbury opponents.

The home side attacked from the off and had strong claims for a penalty on eight minutes when Dan Fitchett was sent sprawling, but Chichester referee Dean Treleaven was not impressed.

A minute later, the Weston goal had another scare when Charlie Knight put Ryan Brett through on the left and his low cross into the six-yard box was just missed by Knight with Weston keeper Lloyd Irish beaten.

Weston’s best chance came on 20 minutes when Dayle Grubb was upended by skipper which  earned him a booking. Ben Cleverley’s curling free kick found Kane Ingram on the left whose shot came back off a post with on-loan keeper from Swindon Town Mark Scott beaten.

Salisbury’s pressure paid off on 23 minutes when good play by Knight on the right set up Stuart Anderson to beat Irish from eight yards.

Weston forced four corners in quick succession on 33 minutes and the nearest they came was when Chris Young sent an unmarked header just wide from Grubb’s flag kick.

Weston were hoping to turn around at the interval only one goal down, but two minutes before the break Salisbury struck again when Jamie Laird gave away an unfortunate free kick on the right and from Anderson’ kick, Dutton made amends for his earlier mistake by climbing above the defence and giving Irish no chance with a strong header into the far corner. A minute later, from Salisbury’s second corner, Dutton’s header came back off a post with Irish beaten.

Minutes into the second half, Weston brought on Marc McGregor for Nat Pepperell and Sahr Kabba for Young, and began to enjoy the better of the exchanges, forcing three more corners and they had strong claims for a penalty when Kabba was brought down, but again the referee was not impressed.

Although Weston were awarded a series of free kicks in dangerous positions, which usually either reached their target or at least forced good saves, this time they were all blocked by a good defence.

Salisbury’s Jake Reid had a clear run at goal on 71 minutes when he was put through, but Irish, coming quickly off his line, blocked the shot to safety.


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