Weston salvaged a draw at home to Farnborough with a late goal by Dayle Grubb.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

FARNBOROUGH 1

WESTON’S persistence paid dividends as they salvaged a Blue Square South draw against a Farnborough squad that dominated play in the second half, after Weston had created all the chances in a scoreless first-half.

The result sees Weston back in fifth spot in the table, but Boreham Wood, a point below, have two games in hand.

The Seagulls started well, forcing a couple of early corners and they almost took the lead on 15 minutes when Dale Grubb got through, but Farnborough keeper Craig Bradshaw made a good save to divert the shot.

Kayne McClaggon finished a strong run at the defence on 23 minutes by firing narrowly across goal and two minutes later Grubb was put behind the defence by Martin Slocombe’s pass but again he was denied by Bradshaw making a superb save at the expense of a corner.

Farnborough created their first chance on 27 minutes when skipper Steve Laidler had a low cross cut out by on-loan keeper Lewis Carey from Bristol City on his home debut.

After Ross Stearn forced a decent save from Bradshaw in the opening minutes of the second half, Farnborough took control, with widemen Dan Bennett and Dave Tarpey making strong runs at the defence while Elvis Hammond was proving a handful.

Tarpey squandered a great chance on 65 minutes when, with only Carey to beat, he ballooned the ball over. However, the visitors did better on 70 minutes when Josh Huggins made a speedy run down the right and fed Hammond who squared the ball for Richard Peniket to score from a couple of yards.

The visitors came close again a minute later when Bennett cracked a screamer off the home crossbar. Weston kept plugging away and were rewarded on 84 minutes when Jamie Price sped down the right and crossed low for Grubb to gain his revenge on Bradshaw.

There was a bumper attendance of 635 for the club’s youth academy day when admission was free, with spectators asked to make a donation. Over £1,500 was taken on the gate for which the club is most grateful.

It is now hoped that many newcomers to the ground will come back again to watch some attractive football.

WESTON STATS -

Goals: Weston, Grubb (84), Farnborough, Peniket (70).

Shots on target: Weston 5, Farnborough 3.

Shots off target: Weston 5, Farnborough 7.

Corners: Weston 6, Farnborough 4.

Offsides: Weston 4, Farnborough 6.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 6, Farnborough 14.

Referee: Richard Hulme (Radstock). Excellent game.

Bookings: Weston, Laird. Farnborough, Laidler.

Attendance: 635.

Weston squad: Carey, Price, Slocombe, Kington (Trowbridge 84), Villis, Laird, Grubb, Kirk, McClaggon, Alvarez (Diallo 70), Stearn (Ingram 87). Subs (not used): Monks, Parry.

WESTON have another home game on Saturday when they entertain mid-table Bromley and will be looking for a league double, having won 1-0 in Kent in January. The scorer was Ashley Kington.

On Tuesday, Weston travel to Basingstoke in a re-arranged fixture and will be seeking another double, having won 5-2 in October when the scorers were Naby Diallo, Ross Stearn, Chas Hemmings, Kane Ingram and Ashley Kington.

The club’s half-time draw first prize worth £120 was won by Mrs Janet Strudwick, wife of the Blue Square League’s general manager Denis, who was present to present a cheque to the Community Trust.