WESTON climbed to fifth spot in the Blue Square South table thanks to recording three successive wins for the first time since the formation of the league in 2004.

WESTON-S-MARE 2

SALISBURY CITY 0

WESTON climbed to fifth spot in the Blue Square South table thanks to recording three successive wins for the first time since the formation of the league in 2004.

Full-time Salisbury, who started the day a point better off than Weston, came on the back of a morale-boosting win in midweek over early pace-setters Truro City, were outplayed by a fitter and faster Weston.

Again manager Craig Laird wrung the changes up front selecting Chris Young and Matt Huxley to spearhead the attack and the tactic almost paid off in the first minute when Huxley forced a superb save from visiting keeper Conor Gough at the expense of Weston’s first corner.

Minutes later, after Weston forced two more corners, Young was unlucky when his strong effort came back into play off the foot of a post with Gough beaten.

In a rare Salisbury attack, their liveliest striker Jake Reid chased a long ball over the home defence, but keeper Lloyd Irish was quickly off his line to punch clear and a minute later, Irish was in action again, going full length to turn player-manager Darrel Clarke’s volley round his post for Salisbury’s first corner.

Just before half time Dayle Grubb forced Weston’s fifth corner with a distance free kick and at the other end Reid broke through again, but was brilliantly tackled by Martin Slocombe before he could get a shot in.

Minutes into the second half, Young forced a decent save from Gough and then Weston forced another corner.

The deadlock was broken on 59 minutes when Kane Ingram, who troubled the Salisbury defence all afternoon, was brought down by Luke Ruddick and Nat Pepperell sent Gough the wrong way with his second penalty of the week.

After that Salisbury visibly wilted and then entered super sub Sahr Kabba. With his first touch on 75 minutes he raced through a non-existent defence and fired narrowly across goal where Ingram controlled but fired into the side netting.

Kabba, who scored against Havant and Waterlooville after coming on, did it again in the 90th minute when he got the better of two defenders and fired into the corner of Gough’s net. Again he was yellow carded for celebrating his goal.

WESTON STATS -

Goals: Weston, Pepperell (59, penalty), Kabba (90).

Shots on target: Weston 5, Salisbury 3.

Shots off target: Weston 4, Salisbury 3.

Corners: Weston 6, Salisbury 3.

Offsides: Weston 5, Salisbury 3.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 19, Salisbury 10.

Referee: Stephen Plane (Pershore). Inconsistent. Gave several strange decisions.

Bookings: Weston, Ingram, Price, Kabba. Salisbury, Knight, Adelsbury,

Attendance: 392.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Grubb, Villis, Martin, Ingram, Kirk, Young (Diallo 69), Huxley (Kabba 72), Pepperell. Subs (not used): Mackay, Hunt, Jamie Laird.

ON Saturday, Weston have another home game when Boreham Wood are visitors (3pm).