Weston gave a much-improved performance against second-placed Bromley, but slipped to a narrow defeat.

WESTON-S-MARE 0

BROMLEY 1

GIVING a much-improved display than of recently, Weston deserved to get at least a point from this Vanarama South encounter against second in the table Bromley.

For long periods, playing the much better football, they pinned the visitors in their own half, the only thing lacking was penetration in the opponents’ penalty. All the side played well, but there outstanding performances from Jacob Cane, Alec Fiddes, Dayle Grubb and Joe McClennan in a dominant midfield.

The Seagulls made a bright start, forcing an early corner and on 11 minutes, Grubb had a strong effort punched to safety by visiting keeper Seb Brown and two minutes later, Cane fired narrowly wide.

Much against the run of play, Bromley scored the game’s only goal on 19 minutes when Damian Scanell evaded a couple of tackles and fired past Luke Purnell from a narrow angle.

The visitors began to enjoy their best spell, with Moses Ademola heading narrowly wide and skipper Rob Swaine heading across goal from their second corner.

As Weston bounced back, they forced a couple of corners and Fiddes had a header taken under his crossbar by Brown.

Early in the second half, Weston made several strong attacks and almost scored when Brown just managed to get his finger tips at full stretch to McClennan’s lob from the edge of the area and turn the ball behind.

Bromley again came back with Swaine again on target from a corner and with Jamie Slabber and Danny Waldren also testing Purnell, while the keeper got down well to gather Louis Dennis’ cross as Slabber closed in.

Back came Weston with Kane Ingram going close and McClennan glancing an effort off the Bromley crossbar. Going into added on time, Ademola had the miss of the match when he headed wide in front of an open goal from Scanell’s cross.

WESTON STATS

Goal: Bromley, Scannel (19).

Shots on target: Weston 6, Bromley 7.

Shots off target: Weston 4, Bromley 6.

Corners: Weston 7, Bromley 8.

Offsides: Weston 2, Bromley 1.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 11, Bromley 11.

Referee: Anthony Sorrano (Hemel Hempstead). Did well, easy game to control.

Bookings: Weston, Ingram. Bronley, Scannel.

Attendance: 366.

Weston squad: Purnell, Mitchell, Llewellyn (Mawford 69), Cane, Jordan, Fortune, Fiddes (Camper 69), Ingram, Harris (Ash 87), Grubb, McClennan. Subs (not used): Edge, Brown.

ON Saturday, Weston face Farnborough for the second time this week, when the sides meet in the first round proper of the FA Trophy. Should a replay be necessary, it will be at Cherrywood Road on Tuesday (7.45pm).