Weston were brushed aside 6-0 by big spending Ebbsfleet United at home.

WESTON-S-MARE 0

EBBSFLEET UNITED 6

WESTON crashed to their first defeat in eight outings as they were brushed aside by their big spending Kent rivals and the defeat sees the Seagulls slip to fifth in the Skrill South League.

At the end of last season, Ebbsfleet were relegated from the Conference Premier, but were taken over by Kuwaiti millionaire company KEH Sports who allegedly injected £100,000 for manager Steve Brown to recruit a squad capable of winning promotion.

This was only their second win of the league season while they have drawn six others.

In a game started at a furious pace, Weston were first to show, Tristan Plummer forcing a corner in the first minute, but a minute later disaster struck when speedy winger Anthony Cook’s deep cross was unfortunately turned into his own goal by Jamie Laird.

Weston were awarded a penalty on 25 minutes when Kane Ingram was brought down by Shane Huke, but Ebbsfleet keeper Preston Edwards guessed correctly to Plummer’s spot kick.

From another speedy attack on 32 minutes Billy Bricknell scored Ebbsfleet’s second after home keeper Luke Purnell beat out Ben May’s strong effort.

Jamie Laird was just over on 44 minutes from Weston’s second corner, but just before the interval the game was effectively put out of the Seagulls’ reach when Alex Osborne, on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge, scored after May’s strong effort was parried by Purnell.

Two minutes into the second half, Ingram got around the back of the visiting defence from Jamie Laird’s free kick, but Edwards pulled off an acrobatic save at the expense of Weston’s third corner.

However, Osborne struck again on 54 minutes, finishing a dash from halfway by firing low across Purnell. By this time, Ebbsfleet were dominant and Cook scored the fifth when set up by substitute Michael Thalasittis, on loan from Stevenage, and Cook completed the tally by curling a low effort round the unsighted Purnell.

In isolated attacks in the second half, both Ingram and Ashley Kington fired narrowly across the Ebbsfleet goal.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Ebbsfleet, Laird (own goal 2), Bricknell (32), Osborne (45, 54), Cook (82, 84).

Shots on target: Weston 4, Ebbsfleet 8.

Shots off target: Weston 3, Ebbsfleet 4.

Corners: Weston 4, Ebbsfleet 3.

Offsides: Weston 4, Ebbsfleet 9.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 12, Ebbsfleet 11.

Referee: Nigel Lugg (Coulsden). Good game.

Bookings: Weston, Knowles, Kirk. Ebbsfleet, Huke, Rance.

Attendance: 354.

Weston squad: Purnell, Walker (Hemmings 76), Slocombe, Kington, Jamie Laid, Knowles, Kirk, Trowbridge, Plummer, Ingram (Harris 76), Diallo (Grubb 66). Subs (not used): Callum Laird, McLaggon.

ON Saturday, Weston are back on the FA Cup trail when they entertain Toolstation Premier outfit Brislington at the Woodspring Stadium (3pm). Should a replay be necessary it will be at Ironmould Lane on the following Tuesday (7.45pm).

The Weston club has announced that Leon Jeane has gone out on loan to Cardiff Grange Harlequins to gain match fitness and that Merthyr Town have been given permission to speak to Kayne McLaggon with a view to dual registration.