Weston defeat Boreham Wood 4-1 to move up to eight place in the Blue Square South table.

WESTON-S-MARE 4

BOREHAM WOOD 1

DURING the close season, Boreham recruited practically a new squad, bringing in players from Farnborough, Chelmsford, Woking, Bromley and Dagenham and Redbridge.

But it has not done them much good as Weston inflicted their fifth defeat in six games to move up to eighth in the Blue Square South table, while Boreham languish near the bottom.

Again manager Craig Laird shuffled his forward line with Chris Young and Mike Mackay spearheading the attack and new signing from Paulton Rovers, Ben Cleverley on the bench.

The visitors made a bright start with giant central defender James Smith heading just wide from a free kick on five minutes, but Weston broke the deadlock on 19 minutes when skipper Ben Kirk won a tussle on the right and Young beat keeper Michael Jordan from eight yards.

After Boreham’s Sam Hurrell gave an easy save to Weston keeper Lloyd Irish on 23 minutes, Weston resumed control with Kane Ingram forcing Jordan to dive full stretch to turn a rasping shot behind.

The visitors lost defender Osei Sankofa when he fell heavily on 30 minutes, skipper Mario Noto dropping back and substitute Charlie Hunter coming on in midfield.

Two minutes into the second half, Boreham’s liveliest forward Hurrell was through on goal, but was stopped by a superb tackle by Jak Martin at the expense of Boreham’s only corner of the game.

Then came an unsavoury incident on 55 minutes. Boreham were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Weston area as the ball went out of play behind the Weston goal. Irish picked it up to return it, but was knocked down by Bryant. A melee involving most of the players ensued forcing referee Lee Swabey and his two assistants to wade in to break it up.

When normality resumed, Bryant was lucky to just receive a yellow card along with team-mate Mark Jones.

From another free kick on 58 minutes Boreham came close when Irish parried Hunter’s fierce shot and Jones fired wide from the rebound.

Cleverley replaced Mackay and he notched Weston’s second goal on 71 minutes when he beat Jordan with a superb curling free kick just inside the near post.

Martin Slocombe made a strong run on the left on 76 minutes and his cross went just wide of Boreham’s far post with Jordan beaten. Minutes later, from another Cleverley free kick, Ingram had the ball in the Boreham net, but was ruled offside.

Sahr Kabba replaced Young to warm applause and with his first touch, forced a good save from Jordan, coming well off his line.

Right on 90 minutes Boreham got an undeserved consolation after a mix-up in the home defence when Irish lost possession on the floor and Bryant scored from 20 yards.

There were five minutes of added on time and Weston struck twice. Price scored with an unmarked far post header from Dayle Grubb’s free kick and Grubb added the fourth with a solo run from half-way.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Young (19), Cleverley (71), Price (90), Grubb (90). Boreham: Bryant (90).

Shots on target: Weston 6, Boreham 4.

Shots off target: Weston 5, Boreham 4.

Corners: Weston 4, Boreham 1.

Offsides: Weston 7, Boreham 3.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 17, Boreham 15.

Referee: Lee Swabey (Devonport). Excellent game in difficult circumstances.

Bookings: Weston, Young, Slocombe, Ingram. Boreham: Bryant, Jones, Smith, Wilkinson.

Attendance: 341.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Grubb, Villis, Martin, Ingram, Kirk, Young (Kabba 74), Mackay (Cleverley 67), Pepperell. Subs (not used): Diallo, Huxley, Jamie Laird.

ON Saturday, Weston travel to Maidenhead with the team coach leaving at 10.30am.