Weston gained another point on the travels, this time drawing 1-1 at Havant & Waterlooville.

HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 1

WESTON-S-MARE 1

WESTON’S depleted squad picked up another valuable Blue Square South point in Hampshire which keeps them in ninth spot in the table.

Jamie Price, Jak Martin and Kane Ingram were suspended, but they welcomed back Brett Trowbridge who had missed five games through injury. Nabi Diallo, normally a midfielder, was drafted into the back four and enjoyed a solid game. New signing Marc McGregor was on the bench but played no part as did loan signing from Bath City Mark Preece.

After an early effort on target by Dale Grubb, Havant took up the running with Bobby Hopkinson and Ollie Palmer both firing over as well as forcing two corners.

The home goal had a let-off on 26 minutes when Weston skipper Ben Kirk scuffed his shot on the greasy pitch a couple of yards out from goal. Then Grubb fired wide finishing good build-up play involving Kirk and Chris Young.

Weston broke the deadlock from their second corner on 32 minutes when, from Ben Cleverley’s flag kick, Young’s header was clawed away by home keeper Lyall Beasley only as far as Trowbridge who scored from a couple of yards.

Minutes before the break, Havant equalised when former Bristol Rovers Sammy Igoe crossed for unmarked Leon Cashman to head past Lloyd Irish from 15 yards. Then Havant skipper Chris Holland set up Hopkins to have a header cleared off his line by Jamie Laird.

In the second half, Maidstone referee Stuart Butler awarded a string of free kicks for petty offences which spoilt play and the game faded out as a spectacle.

Havant were given a good chance on 62 minutes when Irish was adjudged to have picked up a back pass, but Steve Ramsey’s kick from inside the penalty area was deflected for a corner.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Havant, Cashman (45), Weston, Trowbridge (32).

Shots on target: Havant 3, Weston 3.

Shots off target: Havant 5, Weston 4.

Corners: Havant 5, Weston 3.

Offsides: Havant1, Weston 5.

Free kicks conceded: Havant 16, Weston 13.

Referee: Stuart Butler (Maidstone). Over fussy.

Bookings: Havant, Palmer, Ransey, Sones. Weston, Grubb.

Attendance: 578.

Weston squad: Irish, Diallo, Slocombe, Kirk, Villis, Laird, Grubb, Cleverley, Young (Kabba 65), Trowbridge, Pepperell. Subs (not used): Preece, McGregor.

WESTON are without a fixture on Saturday, having been knocked out of the FA Trophy last week by Salisbury City, who will now play in the first round proper of the competition.