A late goal by Chas Hemmings earned Weston a point against Havant & Waterlooville at home.

WESTON-S-MARE 2

HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 2

WESTON twice came from behind to force their fifth draw of the Blue Square South campaign in a most exciting encounter.

This was the fourth point Weston picked up against their visitors this season, thanks to a 3-0 win in Hampshire in September which cost the then manager his job. Under new leader Lee Bradbury, the Hawks arrived on the back of two impressive wins, 4-1 against Bognor Regis in the FA Trophy and 4-0 over Dorchester Town in midweek.

For the first 10 minutes Weston were pinned in their own half, thanks to some penetrating runs by Steve Ramsey on the Havant right, but the home goal was never seriously threatened.

Keeper Lloyd Irish having to make only two serious saves from Ramsey and Ryan Moss.

As Weston got into the game, Havant seemed to fade as an attacking force, and the home side forced five first-half corners. The nearest they came was after 36 minutes when Chas Hemmings crashed an effort against the crossbar from Stearn’s cross.

Weston came out strongly for the second half, with Kington again on target and Havant keeper Clark Masters did well to claim Jamie Price’s cross from the right as Hemmings closed in.

Out of the blue, Havant broke the deadlock on 49 minutes when a flowing move involving Ramsey and Ollie Palmer saw Moss fire past Irish from 15 yards, helped by substitute Stephen Hamilton-Forbes, on loan from Watford, who came on after the interval.

Weston battled back and Kington was unlucky on 70 minutes when his shot from another Stearn pass beat Masters but came back off the foot of a post. However, a minute later Kington did better, scoring from close range after Masters dropped Stearn’s cross when challenged by Hemmings.

Havant regained the lead on 77 minutes when Moss grabbed his second goal from Portsmouth loanee Dan Butler’s pass.

This looked enough for another win for Havant, but Weston bounced back and with three minutes remaining, Hemmings got his reward, bundling in Price’s low cross.

There was still time for Butler to crack a shot against a Weston post with Irish beaten and last season’s Weston favourite Sahr Kabba, on as a Havant substitute, to miss an open goal when put through the home defence.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Kington (71), Hemmings (87). Havant, Moss (49, 77).

Shots on target: Weston 5, Havant 7.

Shots off target: Weston 6, Havant 6.

Corners: Weston 6, Havant 3.

Offsides: Weston 1, Havant 2.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 9, Havant 17.

Referee: Steve Daly (Stanwell Moor, Middlesex). Upset the Weston bench by some of his decisions.

Bookings: Weston Ingram, Price. Havant, Butler, Hamilton-Price.

Attendance: 257.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Kington, Villis, Laird, Stearn (McClaggon 81), Kigk, Hemmings, Ingram (new signing Josh Egan 73), Grubb. Subs (not used): Monks, Pepperell, Diallo.

WESTON were due to play Dover Athletic in the league on December 4, but as both sides were knocked out of the FA Trophy, the league game will now be played on Saturday.

The Weston party will travel on Friday afternoon at 4.15pm, and stay overnight in the outskirts of Dover.