WESTON-S-MARE 1 BRAINTREE TOWN 2 - HAD Weston converted all the chances they created against their Essex visitors, they possibly could have recorded their second win of the season.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

BRAINTREE TOWN 2

HAD Weston converted all the chances they created against their Essex visitors, they possibly could have recorded their second win of the season, but they had to settle for second best which keeps them almost at the bottom of the Blue Square South table.

For long periods of the game, Weston were outplayed by a side who passed the ball around extremely well, and took both their clear-cut chances, whereas the Seagulls shunned chances, including a penalty.

The visitors dominated from the start, forcing a couple of early corners, with Sean Marks heading just wide on five minutes and skipper Bradley Quinton off target with a strong effort a minute later.

On 12 minutes Jacob Mingle forced keeper Kevin Sawyer to tip an effort over his crossbar, but unfortunately when challenged by Clayton Fortune, there was a clash of heads and Mingle sustained a double fracture to his jaw and was taken to Weston General Hospital and later transferred to the BRI where he underwent an operation on Sunday. All at the Weston club wish him well and he was replaced by Dean Harley.

With their first serious attack of the game on 26 minutes, Josh Llewellyn was fouled by Joe Bruce, but 6' 7" keeper Nicky Morgan guessed correctly to Marvin Brown's weak strike from the penalty spot. A minute later, Brown was over with a shot on the turn.

However, Weston took the lead on 34 minutes when Scott Bartlett's corner was bundled in on the far post at the fourth attempt in an almighty scramble.

Six minutes later Braintree hit back when George Purcell was given space on the right to burst through and beat Sawyer from eight yards, despite the keeper getting a hand to the shot, but right on the half-time whistle, Weston should have done better when Mullings had an effort cleared off the line by Bruce following another corner as no one followed up the first effort.

Braintree had the miss of the match on 62 minutes when Quinton missed an open goal, but Weston began to have more of the play, bringing on Jack Compton for Ashan Holgate, Marc McGregor for Brown and Ben Wells for Bartlett with McGregor heading against an upright and having a shot blocked by the defence.

Braintree's winner came via a route one effort when Morgan's long clearance was nodded by Marks to Purcell who controlled well and fired low into the corner.

In a last-gasp effort, Compton forced a good save from Morgan with a low shot from distance.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Mullings (34). Braintree, Purcell (40, 81).

Shots on target: Weston 6, Braintree 5.

Shots off target: Weston 4, Braintree 9.

Corners: Weston 6, Braintree 7.

Offsides: Weston 3, Braintree 1.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 15, Braintree 6.

Referee: John Busby (Oxford). Excellent game.

Bookings: Weston, Green.

Attendance: 262.

Weston squad: Sawyer, Green, Parranello, Harris, Rand, Fortune, Holgate (Compton 60), Mullings, Llewellyn, Brown (McGregor 64), Bartlett (Wells 71). Subs (not used): Evans, Gurney.

On Saturday, Weston face another tough assignment when they travel to Bromley in Kent who are in eighth spot in the table.