Weston striker Jamie Lucas celebrated being voted Vanarama Conference South player of the month with another two goals.

WESTON-S-MARE 2

HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 1

LAST week’s hat-trick hero Jamie Lucas scored both goals as Weston overcame fifth-placed Havant and climbed to 15th in the table.

Before the game, Lucas was presented with a trophy when he was named as Vanarama Conference South player of the month for February.

Missing skipper Tom Jordan and Ollie Barnes, both injured, Seagulls boss Ryan Northmore brought in Jordan Tillson on a month’s loan from Exeter City and he gave a competent performance in the heart of the defence, and with Jake Mawford and Jacob Cane being preferred to Joe McClennan and Kane Ingram, while Pierce Mitchell was back from injury.

The visitors made a positive start, determined to stay in the play-offs, and forced a corner in the second minute. From Ben Swallow’s kick, Ryan Woodford was just over with a thumping header and minutes later Bradley Bubb hit the home crossbar.

Against the run of play, Weston took the lead on 14 minutes when Cane won possession just outside his own penalty area and made a strong run into the Havant half before feeding Lucas who burst through and beat keeper and skipper Ryan Young who had come off his line.

This seemed to knock Havant out of their stride, as Weston began to dominate. Dayle Grubb fired narrowly over and Mawford forced a good save from Young.

Weston struck again on 27 minutes when Jake Llewellyn played inside to Grubb whose forward pass split the Havant defence and put Lucas in the clear to easily beat Young.

Later, Olly Watkins fired narrowly across goal, Llewellyn finished a penetrating run by firing just over and Grubb saw his effort come back off the crossbar.

In an isolated Havant attack, Burr forced a corner with a diving header, with Luke Purnell at full stretch.

Minutes into the second half, Havant made a double substitution, bringing on Ben Wright and Shamir Mullings and they turned the game around. Taking control, Scott Donnelly was just over with a free kick and they pulled a goal back on 62 minutes when Wright scored from a narrow angle with a shot that took a deflection.

Later, both JJ Hooper and Mullings saw shots come back off the inside of a post and Purnell made good saves to deny Hooper, Wright, Mullings and Bubb. The home defence managed to scramble several other attempts to safety as Havant sought an equaliser.

In Weston attacks, Watkins was narrowly over and Grubb forced a corner when Young was forced to fling himself to his right.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Lucas (24, 27). Havant, Wright (62).

Shots on target: Weston 4, Havant 6.

Shots off target: Weston 5, Havant 9.

Corners: Weston 5, Havant 5.

Offsides: Weston 1, Havant 1.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 10, Havant 14.

Referee: Antony Coggins (Bicester). Usual good game.

Bookings: None.

Weston squad: Purnell, Mitchell, Llewellyn (Ash 82), Edge, Tillson, Fortune, Mawford, Cane, Lucas (McClennan 57), Grubb, Watkins (Brown 73). Subs (not used): Barnes, King.

ON Saturday, Weston travel to St Albans City and will be looking to avenge a 2-0 loss suffered back in October.

Tuesday, March 17, sees Weston travel to Basingstoke Town for a first meeting between the sides this season.