Sahr Kabba scored the club’s first hat-trick of the season as the Seasiders defeated Farnborough 5-2.

WESTON-S-MARE 5

FARNBOROUGH 2

WESTON’S pocket dynamo Sahr Kabba led the way with the club’s first hat-trick of the season as they registered their 11th win in the Blue Square South.

In an extraordinary game, all seven goals came in an exciting first half, but in the second 45 minutes there was hardly a shot by either side worth noting.

The Seagulls attacked strongly from the start, Kabba forcing the first of nine corners in the third minute when his goal-bound effort was turned behind by teenage keeper Tom Lovelock. A minute later, from Ben Cleverley’s corner kick, Martin Slocombe’s effort came off the body of Lovelock and was scrambled to safety.

As Farnborough settled into the game, Dan Bennett made a speedy run on the right, but his low cross was cut out by home keeper Lloyd Irish as Marcus Moody closed in. The visitors took a shock lead on 15 minutes when Cleverley slipped when making a challenge allowing Reece Connolly to make ground and beat Irish with a superb rising shot on the turn despite the attention of three home defenders.

Five minutes later Weston equalised when Slocombe and Kane Ingram had efforts blocked by Lovelock, but there was nothing he could do about Kabba’s third attempt. The little man struck again on 26 minutes when he dispossessed defender Douglas Bergqvist, at least a foot taller, and beat Lovelock from close range.

Weston went further ahead on 32 minutes when Ingram was fouled by Farnborough skipper Adam Brygave and Nat Pepperell beat Lovelock from the penalty spot. Two minutes later Kabba completed his hat-trick when he was put through by a neat passing movement between Jame Price and Pepperell.

To their credit, Farnborough were not quite finished and two minutes before the break, Dan Bennett beating Irish with a stunning snap shot from the edge of the home penalty area. Earlier, Phil Rage burst through the home defence, but he shot straight into the arms of Irish.

Weston completed the scoring just before the interval when skipper Ben Kirk latched on to a weak clearance and beat Lovelock low down to his right.

In contrast, the second half was a dull affair mainly played in midfield. The visitors came close on 52 minutes when, in a scramble in the home six-yard box, a shot came back off a post and was cleared and from their third corner on 62 minutes, Connolly’s low cross was touched behind by Irish at full stretch.

A minute before the end, Weston substitute Marc McGregor had a goal-bound header knocked over his crossbar by defender Miles Smith from another home corner.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Kabba (20, 26, 34), Pepperell (32 penalty), Kirk (45). Farnborough, Connolly (15), Bennett (43).

Shots on target: Weston 8, Farnborough 4.

Shots off target: Weston 3, Farnborough 3.

Corners: Weston 9, Farnborough 5.

Offsides: Weston 3, Farnborough 4.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 9, Farnborough 12.

Referee: Mark Pottage (Gillingham, Dorset). Excellent game, kept play flowing.

Bookings: Weston, Trowbridge. Farnborough, Sogbanmu.

Attendance: 422.

Weston squad: Irish Price, Slocombe, Cleverley, Villis, Laird, Ingram (Diallo 83), Kirk, Kabba (McGregor 74), Trowbridge (Young 79), Pepperell. Subs (not used): Duharty, Martin.

ON Saturday, Weston play their third successive home Blue Square South fixture when second in the table, Welling United provide the opposition (3pm) and the club will be looking for another big crowd.