WELLING UNITED 3 WESTON-S-MARE 1 - ALTHOUGH Weston were outplayed by Welling, after pulling level, they were denied by two goals in the final eight minutes after suffering the loss of both central defenders through injury.

WELLING UNITED 3

WESTON-S-MARE 1

ALTHOUGH Weston were outplayed by Welling, after pulling level, they were denied by two goals in the final eight minutes after suffering the loss of both central defenders through injury.

They started the game without Marc McGregor who was ill and within the space of minutes in the second half Craig Rand and Clayton Fortune had to come off, Tom Evans coming on and Ashan Holgate, who was causing problems to the home rearguard with his wholehearted play, had to move into defence, Marvin Brown taking his place in attack.

Speaking after the game, Weston manager Andy Gurney commented: "This was easily the worst performance we gave this season as we were second to everything and despite battling back to equalise, we conceded two late goals."

Welling were in control from the start, forcing the first of nine corners on five minute and with Jake Hobbs and Sam Hurrell having early shots on target and Weston keeper Kevin Sawyer was forced to beat Tony Finn's low effort to safety.

As Weston got into the game, Jack Compton was off target from Holgate's cross on 24 minutes and minutes later Compton was on target with a distance effort and later wide with a free kick.

The Weston goal had a let-off minutes before the break when Rand slipped when attempting to challenge Tom Whitnett who was left with an open goal, but Sawyer made a point-blank save, turning the effort over his bar. From the corner, Whitnell was again denied by Sawyer.

A minute into the second half, Dean Cracknell cracked an effort off a Weston post and Welling forced two more corners minutes later.

For Weston, Compton was again over with a free kick while Scott Bartlett had an effort blocked by a packed defence.

The stalemate was broken on 73 minutes when Michael Deaan's effort took a deflection and fell for Whitnell who finally manager to beat Sawyer low to his left.

Weston were back in the game on 80 minutes when from substitute Ben Wells' short corner Darren Mullings crossed for Compton to beat home keeper Charlie Mitton from close range. Later, Mullings was denied when his goal-bound shot was blocked.

With the game looking to be heading for a draw, Welling substitute Jack Parkinson turned Finn's corner past Sawyer and in added on injury time, other Welling substitute Steffan Gaisie sealed the win from close range.

ON Saturday, Weston have a tough assignment when they take on Havant and Waterlooville in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup (3pm).

Weston will be hoping that Marc McGregor will be over his illness and that Craig Rand and Clayton have recovered from injury as Havant lie in seventh spot in the Blue Square South and former Weston favourite Manny Williams is leading scorer in the division with 11 goals.