WESTON-S-MARE 1 THURROCK 3 - ALTHOUGH Weston slipped to one from bottom of the Blue Square South with this latest defeat, supporters should not panic.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

THURROCK 3

ALTHOUGH Weston slipped to one from bottom of the Blue Square South with this latest defeat, supporters should not panic, as the management duo of Andy Gurney and Chris Smith have over half the season left to turn matters around.

Although they were beaten by a better side who are in third spot in the table, Weston created several good chances and on at least three occasions promising moves were halted by marginal offside decisions which on another day might not have been flagged.

In the opening minutes, Thurrock forced a couple of successive corners on eight minutes, finished by Leon Lalite heading over, but as the Seagulls got going, recent signing Ben Cleverley forced a diving full-length save from keeper Joe Woolley with a strong effort from distance on 12 minutes and later Jack Compton's cross drifted over the Thurrock crossbar and Darren Mullings tested the keeper with a sharp header.

The visitors had the ball in the Weston net on 20 minutes, but referee Colin Lymer spotted an infringement and awarded a free kick to Weston. But Thurrock did better on 27 minutes when tricky winger Fola Orilonishe was allowed to burst unchallenged into the penalty area from wide on the left and set up Leon McKenzie to beat Kevin Sawyer, who got his hands to the low effort but could not prevent the ball going in.

Orilonishe struck again on 34 minutes, this time popping up on the right, accepting Matthew Bodkin's pass and beating Sawyer from eight yards.

Weston came more into the game early in the second half and pulled a goal back on 51 minutes when Thurrock central defender Kenny Clark picked up a booking for a foul on David Gilroy, who scored his fourth goal for the club from the penalty spot. Minutes later, Gilroy just failed to connect with Tom Parrinello's cross from the left with only Woolley to beat.

Thurrock looked dangerous on the break and Sawyer had to fling himself to his right on 63 minutes to deny Bodkin's fierce shot.

Weston brought on Josh Klein-Davies for Mullings and Gilroy had the miss of the match on 77 minutes when he was put behind the defence, but he fired tamely wide with only Woolley to beat and the side forced three corners as they pressed.

On 90 minutes, with Weston camped in the Thurrock half, Bodkin made a speedy break down the right and crossed for David Bryant to seal the win from close range.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Gilroy (51, penalty), Thurrock, McKenzie (27), Orilonishee (35), Bryant (90).

Shots on target: Weston 3, Thurrock 6.

Shots off target: Weston 6, Thurrock 6.

Corners: Weston 3, Thurrock 10.

Offsides: Weston 4, Thurrock 7.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 11, Thurrock 8.

Referee: Colin Lymer (Mayford, Surrey). Good game.

Bookings: Weston, Fortune, Parrinello. Thurrock, Clark, Flynn.

Attendance: 140.

Weston squad: Sawyer, Green, Parrinello, Harris, Rand, Fortune, Cleverley, Mullings (Klein-Davies 63), Gilroy, Joyce, Compton. Subs (not used): Evans, Bartlett, Grubb, Hart.

ON Saturday, newly promoted Dover Athletic provide the opposition at the Woodspring Stadium and Weston will be looking to reverse a 5-3 defeat suffered in Kent.