Weston lost at home for the third this season, going down to basement side Wealdstone.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

WEALDSTONE 2

WESTON crashed to their third home defeat in the Vanarama Conference South season against the league’s bottom club and have dropped to 18th in the table.

The side gave a lack-lustre display with a lot of players having an off day. Possession was easily given away thanks to passes going astray, coupled with fairly easy chances missed. The win lifts the Middlesex-based club off the bottom of the league.

The Seagulls started brightly, forcing a couple of early corners with Dayle Grubb firing narrowly wide. As the visitors picked up the pace Tom Hickey was off target, but they came close on 21 minutes when Luke O’Nien struck the angle of post and bar with a superb snap shot from outside the penalty area.

From another Weston corner, Grubb fired narrowly across goal, but he did better on 32 minutes when he beat Wealdstone keeper Jon North from Joe McClennan’s low cross.

Five minutes later, North made a point-blank save to deny Cory Williams and later when Williams was put clear, the keeper came well off his line to block the goal-bound effort.

The visitors came more into the game in the second half, forcing some early corners, and they equalised on 55 minutes when Scott McGleish rose to meet Jack Mills’ free kick and steer the ball past Luke Purnell.

McClennan made a strong run on the right, beating several defenders, and put Jake Harris clear, but he blazed his effort over the bar when he had time to steady himself for a better shot.

Wealdstone’s winner came on 69 minutes when Tom Hamblin headed past Purnell from Shaun Lucien’s corner.

Weston pressed hard for an equaliser, but the nearest they came was when Grubb grazed the visitors’ crossbar from 20 yards.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Grubb (32). Wealdstone, McGleish (55), Hamblin (69).

Shots on target: Weston 3, Wealdstone 5.

Shots off target: Weston 7, Wealdstone 3.

Corners: Weston 7, Wealdstone 5.

Offsides: Weston 1, Wealdstone 4.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 12, Wealdstone 14.

Referee: Simon Knapp (Mangotsfield). Good game.

Bookings: None.

Attendance: 400.

Weston squad: Purnell, Teale, Llewellyn (Bath 85), Mawford (Lucas 70), Jordan, Fortune, McClennan, Cane, Williams, Grubb, Harris (Ash 61). Subs (not used): Brown, Fiddes.

ON Saturday, Weston are back on FA Cup duty with a visit to Hellenic Premier League Flackwell Heath, who are situated near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Prize money of £7,500 is on offer to the winners.

Should a replay be necessary, it will be at the Woodspring Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm).