Weston gave a poor display as they crashed to defeat at the Siverlake Stadium in Eastleigh.

EASTLEIGH 3

WESTON-S-MARE 0

WESTON gave a dismal display as they embarrassingly crashed at the Silverlake Stadium. They had no answer to the speed all over the park of the home side who came close to doubling the score and forcing 11 corners.

From the side that put up a heroic performance in midweek at Farnborough, manager Craig Laird brought in Dayle Grubb, Chris Young and Kane Ingram with Brett Trowbridge, Nabi Diallo and Ross Stern dropping to the substitutes’ bench.

The game kicked off five minutes late due to standing water on part of the pitch following heavy morning rain, but Oxford referee Ryan Atkins was satisfied with the work of a band of volunteers and the game went on.

Eastleigh forced two of their 11 corners in the opening minutes, but when Weston attacked on eight minutes, Nat Pepperell had a good cross cut out by keeper Jack Dovey.

Otherwise, there was little goalmouth activity until the 26th minute when Eastleigh’s Daryl McMahon set up Moses Ademola, whose speed was a constant threat, to burst through and lob keeper Lloyd Irish, who had come off his line, from the edge of the penalty area.

Minutes later, Ademola almost scored again when set up by Jai Reason, but Irish managed to turn the shot behind.

A minute into the second half, McMahon played in Marvin Williams whose low effort was parried by Irish and with the Weston defence in disarray, Ademola was on hand to tap into the empty net.

Straight from the kick-off, Eastleigh regained possession and McMahon’s effort was again parried by Irish for Ademola to cross for Craig McAllister to tap in.

After that, Weston looked dead on their feet and Jai Reason and substitute Chris Flood forced corners.

Weston’s only effort on target came from Ashley Kington’s 30-yard effort which brought a good save from Dovey on 55 minutes.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Eastleigh, Ademola (26, 46), McAllister (47).

Shots on target: Eastleigh 7, Weston 1.

Shots off target: Eastleigh 6, Weston 1.

Corners: Eastleigh 11, Weston 2.

Offsides: Eastleigh 5, Weston 6.

Free kicks conceded: Eastleigh 11, Weston 8.

Referee: Ryan Atkins (Oxford). Made some puzzling decisions, not helped by offside decisions by one of his assistants.

Bookings: Eastleigh, Nelson. Weston, Slocombe.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Kington (Hemmings 59), Villis, Laird, Grubb, Kirk, Young (Diallo 79), Ingram, Pepperell (Stern 62). Subs (not used): Monks, Trowbridge.

ON Saturday, Weston are again on their travels, this time to AFC Hornchurch in Essex, with the team coach leaving at 9am. Hornchurch is the team Weston played on the opening day of the 2004-05 season when they both joined the Blue Square South League.

On Tuesday next, Weston have a home game when London-based Staines Town provide the opposition (7.45pm).

Following the departure of coach John Haile, manager Craig Laird has recruited Rob Boyd from Shepton Mallet.

In his playing days, Rob was with Bristol Rovers, Bath City and Melksham, but he had to retire, aged just 23, through injury.

Since then he became a coach at Bristol Rovers Centre of Excellence, Mangotsfield United, Almondsbury Town and Minehead. He is a UEFA B coach.