Weston were out-muscled by a physical Concord Rangers side at Canvey Island, Essex.

CONCORD RANGERS 2

WESTON-S-MARE 0

WESTON were subjected to an extremely physical Vanarama Conference South encounter after a tiring journey of more than four hours to Canvey Island, Essex.

An experienced home side made strong challenges, but were treated leniently by a referee who kept his cards firmly in his pocket.

Whenever Weston mounted an attack, Concord pulled bodies behind the ball with the result that several strong efforts were blocked by a sheer force of numbers. However, Weston managed to force five corners.

Weston keeper Luke Purnell made to save of the game in the opening seconds when he flung himself to his right to turn Steve Cawley’s fierce shot round his post. Later, Cawley had a header on target and then went close with another strong effort.

The visitors held out until just before the half-time break when skipper Tony Stokes set up Cawley to lob Purnell from 15 yards.

Minutes into the second half, Weston gave debuts to two new signings, Jamie Edge, who was a youth player with Arsenal and West Brom, and Liam Monelle, a youth loan signing from Bristol City, who both showed up well in the midfield.

Concord struck again on 65 minutes when Cawley burst down the left and crossed for the unmarked Sam Collins to beat Purnell from close range.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Concord, Cawley (45), Collins (65).

Shots on target: Concord 7, Weston 0.

Shots off target: Concord 4, Weston 2.

Corners: Concord 7, Weston 5.

Offsides: Concord 2, Weston 2.

Free kicks conceded: Concord 11, Weston 12.

Referee: Ashvin Degnarain (North London). Poor game, allowed the home side too much latitude.

Bookings: None.

Attendance: 302.

Weston squad: Purnell, Mafuta, Llewellyn (Monelle 69), Brown, Jordan, Fortune, McClennan, Cane, Lucas, Grubb (Ash 71), Fiddes (57). Subs (not used): Bath, Camper.

ON Saturday, Weston will be hosting the most important game in the club’s history when they entertain Football League Division 1 Doncaster Rovers in the first round proper of the FA Cup.

In an all-ticket game, the visitors could be bringing 600 supporters with them and the capacity of the Woodspring Stadium will be fully tested.

The BBC television programme Football Focus will be broadcast live from Weston’s clubhouse starting at 12 noon and will be hosted by pundit Mark Lawrenson, the former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland international.

The BBC will be mounting nine cameras round the stadium to record highlights of the game.

Weston will be wearing a new all-white strip which will incorporate a poppy as well as the club logo. After the game, the shirts will be sold on E-bay and all monies raised will be donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Fund.