Weston AFC manager Scott Bartlett said they could have managed the moment better when Robbie Willmott suffered a soft tissue issue in their defeat against Weymouth on Boxing Day.

Willmott went down injured in the 31st minute of their 3-2 defeat to the Terras, and with the Seagulls down to 10 men the visitors capitalised to equalise through Harry Parsons.

Willmott signed from Woking in October on loan for the rest of the season.

And Bartlett said Wilmott, who was replaced by Rex Mannings, should be fine but added that the situation is something they need to improve on.

“Yeah, it's a heavy pitch, it's really heavy,” he said.

“We are picking up a lot of soft tissue injuries. We've just come out of the horrible spell of injuries, actually and we're in pretty good health. 

“Robbie’s has settled down really quickly, but there's no risk, we could have managed that moment better. Obviously we conceded while he was off or while we were waiting to get Rex on. 

“So, that's something we need to improve on as a management team, but Robbie will be be fine.”

With Weston facing Weymouth in the reverse fixture on New Year’s Day, Bartlett said he is hopeful Willmott will be back but it is to early to say whether the full-back will be included.

He added: “I would hope so, but it's very early.”

Bartlett says his side have to be equal what Weymouth are good at when the two sides meet again next Monday but is aware just how good they are.

“Weymouth are really good at what they do, really good at what they do,” he said.

“We, for the last, however long I've been here, have had a way of playing and we've got really good at it.

“But today we came off that and if we come off those levels and they aren’t neat and tidy on the ball and don't have forward runners, good rotations, movements and we don't ask enough questions of opposition or when we do don't hit the target enough. 

“The other side of our game has to equal what Weymouth are good at and I think they worked harder than us today without the ball.”