Weston travelled to Eastleigh and lost 3-1 to the promotion-chasing home side.

EASTLEIGH 3

WESTON-S-MARE 1

EASTLEIGH, second in the Skrill South table, kept up their promotion challenge by avenging the defeat inflicted by Weston in January, but despite the loss, Weston are still in fifth spot in the table.

Weston had as much of the midfield play as their full-time opponents, but the difference was in the finishing, as the Weston attack was well policed by the home defence.

In a scoreless first-half, Eastleigh created the better of the chances, with Jai Reason cracking a shot off a Weston post on 29 minutes and they were awarded a penalty on 38 minutes when skipper Glen Southam was brought down by Callum Laird, but keeper Lloyd Irish, diving to his left, guessed correctly for Jai Reason’s spot kick, for one of many crucial saves.

Early on, Kane Ingram headed narrowly wide from Ben Kirk’s free kick and the visitors came close on 43 minutes when home keeper Ross Flitney did well to turn Ashley Kington’s dipping effort over his crossbar at full stretch.

Minutes into the second half, from Eastleigh’s third corner, Ben Wright’s strong effort came back off the Weston crossbar, but Wright opened the scoring on the hour from Reason’s pass.

Four minutes later, Reason made amends for his penalty miss, but cutting in from the left and beating Irish.

Weston showed they were not finished, however, on 67 minutes when Chas Hemmings pulled a goal back with a far post header from Dayle Grubb’s cross.

Eastleigh substitute Craig McAllister sealed the points, minutes after coming on, when he scored the third by lobbing Irish, who had come off his line, from the edge of the penalty area.

For the last seven minutes, Weston brought on new signing George Rigg, who showed some nice touches. Rigg (20) is on dual registration with Weymouth, but has been training with Weston.

He came up through the ranks of Bristol City and spent a season with Stoke City’s development squad before being released and joining Bristol Rovers and later Exeter City.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Eastleigh, Wright (60), Reason (64), McAllister (76). Weston, Hemmings (67).

Shots on target: Eastleigh 7, Weston 2.

Shots off target: Eastleigh 6, Weston 5.

Corners: Eastleigh 4, Weston 3.

Offsides: Eastleigh 5, Weston 7.

Free kicks conceded: Eastleigh 10, Weston 6.

Referee: Anthony Coggins (Bicester). Good game. Did not miss very much.

Bookings: Eastleigh, Stevens, Beckwith. Weston, Callum Laird, Kington

Attendance: 602.

Weston squad: Irish, Ingram, Slocombe, Callum Laird (Trowbridge 65), Jamie Laird, Knowles, Kirk, Diallo, Hemmings, Kington (Fiddes 77), Grubb (Rigg 83). Subs (not used): Brown, Purnell.

ON Saturday, Weston entertain Brighton-based Whitehawk at the Woodspring Stadium (3pm). When the sides met in September, the game ended scoreless. Whitehawk are in 17th spot in the table, with 28 points from 27 games.