Weston produced their performance of the season against fourth-placed Chelmsford City.

WESTON-S-MARE 3

CHELMSFORD CITY 0

THOSE Weston supporters who either travelled to watch Bristol City or stayed at home to watch Manchester United undoubtedly missed the home performance of the season as the Seagulls demolished their Essex visitors.

Over the past 11 days, they have beaten Blue Square South League leaders Welling United, drawn with second placed Salisbury and beaten fourth-placed Chelmsford as well as an away win at bottom club Truro City.

This was Weston’s first-ever win over Chelmsford, as in the previous 14 meetings between the clubs, Weston managed only four draws, two at home and two away.

From the side on duty at Salisbury, Anton Alvarez was an absentee, while Kayne McClaggon and Kane Ingram were relegated to the subs’ bench, Ross Stearn, Ashley Kington and Chas Hemmings taking over.

After City’s Anthony Cook tested keeper Lloyd Irish with a distance free kick on three minutes, Weston almost took the lead a minute later when Stearn cracked a 20-yard effort off the visitors’ crossbar with keeper Stuart Searle rooted to the spot.

After forcing three corners in quick succession, Weston came close again on 14 minutes when Searle did well to hold Kington’s spectacular overhead kick. Minutes later, Hemmings mistimed a diving header from Stearn’s cross, the ball going harmlessly wide and was cleared upfield.

The deadlock was broken on 41 minutes when Grubb hit a screamer from 25 yards as he quickly turned on the ball to leave Searle clawing at air.

Fifty-seven seconds into the second half Weston struck again when Hemmings, near the by-line on the left got possession and his low shot-cum-cross nestled in the corner of Searle’s net.

Weston were awarded a free kick wide on the left and as the players jostled for possession, Hemmings was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident and Jamie Price was cautioned. When order was restored, the ball was played sideways to Brett Trowbridge, whose 30-yard effort flew over Searle’s head.

To their credit, Chelmsford tried hard to get something back, but bad misses by Jamie Slabber, David Bridges and Junior Konadu and some great saves by Irish, ensured a clean sheet.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Grubb (41), Hemmings (46), Trowbridge (85).

Shots on target: Weston 5, City 4.

Shots off target: Weston 2, City 7.

Corners: Weston 5, City 2.

Offsides: Weston 2, City 1.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 13, City 9.

Referee: Adam Hopkins (Plymouth). Generally good game.

Bookings: Weston, Kington, Price, Jamie Laird, Hemmings (red). City, Bakare.

Attendance: A disappointing 173.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Diallo, Villis, Jamie Laird, Stearn (McClaggon 83), Trowbridge, Hemmings, Kington (Monks 83), Grubb (Ingram 90). Subs (not used): Parry, Callum Laird.