FOR the first time in several seasons, Weston reached the semi-final of the Somerset Professional Cup, thanks to a goal in the second minute of added on time.

TAUNTON TOWN 1

WESTON-S-MARE 2

FOR the first time in several seasons, Weston reached the semi-final of the Somerset Professional Cup, thanks to a goal in the second minute of added on time.

The home side, who ply their trade in Zamaretto Southern Division, two levels below Weston, held the lead for 26 minutes, but Weston’s superior fitness that saw them through in the end.

Taunton came within a whisker of scoring in the first minute when Ross McNab, who lives in Weston, burst through and rounded keeper Lloyd Irish, but Jamie Laird was on hand to clear the ball to safety.

As Weston got going, Sahr Kabba was narrowly wide and on 12 minutes they forced two successive corners.

Jon Vance tested Irish with a good effort on 27 minutes and just before the interval, Taunton took the lead when Luke Cole burst down the right and crossed for former Weston youth player Aaron Blakemore, newly signed from Almondsbury Town, to beat Irish from 15 yards.

Weston gradually got the upper hand in the second half, with Kabba having a shot blocked by home keeper Chris Astley on 55 minutes and they equalised on 69 minutes when Kane Ingram set up Dayle Grubb to unleash a 25-yard shot that gave Astley no chance. Minutes later, Astley was in action again, cutting out Ingram’s cross as Kabba and Kirk closed in.

On 90 minutes, Astley made a superb reflex save to deny Nat Pepperall’s point-blank piledriver, but minutes into added on time, with extra time and penalties looming, Kabba burst between defenders Dave Anthony and Vance to beat Astley.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Taunton, Blakemore (43). Weston, Dayle Grubb (69), Kabba (90).

Shots on target: Taunton 5, Weston 3.

Shots off target: Taunton 3, Weston 5.

Corners: Taunton 2, Weston 5.

Offsides: Taunton 4, Weston 7.

Free kicks conceded: Taunton 13, Weston 6.

Referee: Michael Cairns (Bridgwater). Reasonable game, however his assistants anticipated several off-side decisions.

Bookings: Taunton, Cole, Rice, McNab. Weston, Irish, Kabba

Attendance: 179.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Jamie Laird, Rand, Villis, Trowbridge, Ingram, Kirk, Kabba, Dayle Grubb, Pepperall. Subs (not used): Craig Laird, Mawford, Duharty, Porter, Slocombe.