WESTON-S-MARE 2

THURROCK 2

THURROCK’S Lee Boylan must enjoy playing against Weston. Last season, on his debut for the Essex club, the former West Ham United Academy player scored a hat-trick and this time he scored both goals to secure a point for the Blue Square South bottom club.

He only came on at half-time to replace another substitute who had struggled in the first half after coming on after 29 minutes..

This was another disappointing result for Weston who were hoping to complete a league double, but they were a shade unlucky having two goals disallowed by marginal offside decisions.

Weston got off to a flying start, leading scorer Sahr Kabba starting a run wide on the left from just inside his own half. He outstripped the defence and cut inside to send his low shot wide on keeper David Hughes.

Minutes later Jamie Price forced a good save from Hughes with a header from Nat Pepperell’s cross, while at the other end, Lloyd Irish had to fling himself to his right to deny Sam Cutler’s point-blank effort.

Just before the break, Price had the ball in the Thurrock net from a rebound after Hughes could only knock Dayle Grubb’s 25-yard piledriver on to his crossbar, but an offside flag was raised. Then skipper Ben Kirk struck the angle of post and bar from Grubb’s corner.

Pepperell had the ball in the Thurrock net on 63 minutes after Kane Ingram had cut in from the left and played across the face of the goal, but again an offside flag was raised.

Thurrock’s Deen Ahmed tested Irish before Boylan grabbed an equaliser on 76 minutes with a great 25-yard snap shot, but five minutes later Price restored Weston’s lead when he leapt in front of the Thurrock defence to head in Grubb’s free kick.

Into a lengthy stoppage time, Boylan struck again with a diving header from a corner and sensing an unlikely win, the visitors laid siege to the home goal, forcing three corners in the remaining minute.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Kabba (5), Price 81. Thurrock, Boylan (76, 90+2)

Shots on target: Weston 7, Thurrock 5.

Shots off target: Weston 4, Thurrock 4.

Corners: Weston 8, Thurrock 7.

Offsides: Weston 2, Thurrock 1.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 15, Thurrock 16.

Referee: Adam Bromley (Plymouth). Good game, allowed play to flow as best he could.

Bookings: Weston, Slocombe. Thurrock Goodhind, Ashton.

Attendance: 208.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Trowbridge (Duharty 80), Villis, Laird, Grubb, Kirk, Kabba (Mawford 83), Ingram, Pepperell. Subs (not used): Young, Cleverley.

ON Saturday, Weston travel to Farnborough looking for a league double, having won 5-2 when the sides met in January with goals from Sahr Kabba (3), Ben Kirk and a penalty by Nat Pepperell.

Recently, the Hampshire club have been deducted five Blue Square South points for financial irregularities.

Weston have a rearranged home game on Tuesday when league leaders Woking provide the opposition. When the sides met in October, the Surrey-based club ran out 4-1 winners, Nat Pepperell getting Weston’s consolation.

THE Weston club has announced the appointment of Mr John Fournier as commercial manager.

Previously, Mr Fournier held a similar post at Exeter City for five years and at Tiverton Town for eight years and also worked for BBC Radio Devon. Prior to his move to Devon, he had been associated with Leatherhead FC in a number of roles.