Weston finished their Blue Square South season with a draw at home to Dover.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

DOVER ATHLETIC 1

WESTON ended their Blue Square South campaign in 13th place with 51 points in the table after playing out an entertaining draw against Dover, who just missed out on a play-off spot, finishing in seventh.

The Seagulls went into the game missing influential central defender Mat Villis and skipper Ben Kirk and Brett Trowbridge, who suffered an accident at work was another absentee.

Ben Cleverley was recalled to midfield, Marc McGregor continued as central defender with Jamie Laird, who took over the captaincy. Nabi Diallo gave a man of the match performance in midfield, while Kane Ingram joined Chris Young in attack with Dayle Grubb and Nat Pepperell operated on the flanks.

Weston were quickly on the attack, with Pepperell forcing visiting keeper Lee Hook in the opening minute and Hook did well to claim Ingram’s effort from the follow-up.

Dover’s best chance came on six minutes when Rob Edmans forced a save from Lloyd Irish with a strong header from an earlier free kick.

As Weston attacked again, Young, who had a splendid game against giant Ian Simpemba, who captained Crawley Town when they were promoted into the Football League, forced his side’s first corner when Hook turned his effort one-handedly behind.

Minutes later, Young fired narrowly across goal and Grubb was only feet wide with a shot from distance.

At the start of the second half, Dover enjoyed their best spell with Tom Wynter’s effort taking a deflection for Billy Bricknell to force a diving save from Irish. However, the visitors did better on 50 minutes when Wynter, Lloyd Harrington and Bricknell set up Edmans to beat Irish from 10 yards.

Weston quickly got back into their stride and from their fourth corner on 66 minutes, taken by Grubb, Jamie Price beat Hook in a crowded six-yard box. Later, Grubb had a free kick fisted to safety by Hook and Young fired into the side netting when put through by Pepperell.

Minutes from the end, Price limped off with a knee injury, Jack Camm, from the Academy squad, taking over.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Price (66), Dover, Edmans (50).

Shots on target: Weston 5, Dover 3.

Shots off target: Weston 4, Dover 4.

Corners: Weston 6, Dover 2.

Offsides: Weston 3, Dover 5.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 16, Dover 15.

Referee: Simon Knapp (Bristol). Good game, allowed play to flow.

Bookings: Weston, Ingram, Diallo, Slocombe. Dover, Cogan, Wynter, Huke, Noone.

Attendance: 327.

Weston squad: Irish, Price (Camm 88), Slocombe, Cleverley, Laird, McGregor, Grubb, Diallo, Young, Ingram, Pepperell. Subs (not used): Kabba, Duharty, Callum Laird.

ON Saturday, Weston will be holding their annual presentation evening at their club, commencing at 6.30pm. Unfortunately, all tickets have now been sold.

The club will be holding a fans’ forum at the Woodspring Stadium on May 13, starting at 11am when manager Craig Laird, assistant John Haile along with chairman Paul Bliss and fellow directors will be on hand to answer queries and reveal plans for the new season. All supporters are invited to attend.