Weston AFC ended 2023 with a 3-2 defeat after a five-goal thriller at The Optima Stadium against Weymouth in the National League South this afternoon (Tuesday).

The Seagulls took the lead through Dayle Grubb, after the captain stepped up to score from the spot, before Harry Parsons levelled the scores with a fine strike.

Terras captain Tom Bearwish headed the visitors in front on the stroke of half-time before in injury time Jason Pope levelled the scores again with a wonderful finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-2 at the break.

Both sides had chances in the second half but the fifth and final goal of a pulsating match came in the 71st minute when Weymouth’s Brandon Goodship slotted home past Max Harris.

There was still time for Sam Avery to be shown a red card in added time when he brought down Parsons on the edge of the area but the damage was done as Weston fell to their third successive defeat.

The loss at The Optima Stadium sees Weston drop to 18th in the table.

Scott Bartlett made two changes for the Seagulls final game of 2023, a year which has brought so much excitement and joy after promotion from the Southern Premier South in April, against Weymouth.

Keiran Thomas and Grubb were named in the starting 11 in place of Jordan Bastin and Rex Mannings, who both had to settle for a place on the bench.

Jacob Jagger-Cane had the first opportunity of the contest after three minutes but the midfielder could only send his effort over the crossbar before the midfielder sent his strike wide of the goal.

Parsons then sent his curling effort over from 25-yards-out before the forward arrowed an effort just past the post.

Teddy Howe then saw his effort cleared off the line in the 17th minute in what was end to end action.

James Dodd saw his effort kept out by Gerrard Benfield’s foot before Grubb fired over a free-kick 20-yards-out.

But Weston’s captain didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet. Howe brought down Dodd inside the box and Grubb stepped up to score, despite Benfield getting a hand to it and in off the post in the 28th minute.

However, Weymouth did level the scores a couple of minutes later through Parsons. With the Seagulls down to 10 men, following Robbie Willmott’s injury, Parsons took advantage to fire home.

Substitute Rex Mannings nearly made an instant impact but he could only direct his shot wide before Grubb saw his effort superbly tipped over by Benfield.

But it was the visitors who took the lead late on in the first half when Howe’s cross found Bearwish to nod home and looked to have put the Terras in front at half-time.

But Weston had other ideas when Dodd fed Pope and the Seagulls right-back, from the edge of the area, let fly and his effort arrowed into the bottom corner, leaving Benfield rooted to the spot.

Both sides had chances in the opening period of the second half. Jagger-Cane saw his 25-yard strike fly past the post before Alfie Rutherford’s goal-bound strike was beaten away by Harris.

Harris then did well to get in between two Weston defenders but he could only head wide off the target from Howe’s delivery.

James Morton was next to go close but his deflected free-kick was well-held by Benfield in the 56th minute.

Just two minutes later Grubb’s in-swinging free-kick caused problems for the Weymouth defence and was flicked across goal into the path of Dodd and he nodded the ball into the path of Rueben Reid who could only volley it over from close range.

Jagger-Cane went close again but saw his effort kept out by Benfield before Harris was equally as impressive when he parried away Charlie Rowan’s strike.

And with 19 minutes left it was Bobby Wilkinson’s men who grabbed the winner. Goodship showed great composure before he fired low and hard though Max Harris’ legs and into the bottom corner.

Thomas fired wide, after a 1-2 with Grubb, before substitute Bastin saw his low effort kept out by Benfield as Weston kept pushing forward for an equaliser.

Lloyd Humphries’ deflected effort from 30-yards-out flew into the grateful arms of Benfield in the 87th minute.

There was still time for Avery to be shown a straight red card for bringing down Parsons on edge of the box in the fourth minute of stoppage time as the Seagulls came away empty handed.

Weston AFC: Harris, Pope (Bastin 75), Thomas, Cane, Humphries, Avery, Willmott (Mannings 32), Dodd, Grubb (C), Morton (Jackson 80), Reid

Attendance: 1,202