AFTER enjoying a rare overnight stay, Weston recorded their second away win of the Blue Square South season at Dover who started the day five places above the Seagulls and 10 points better off despite having played three games less.

DOVER ATHLETIC 0

WESTON-S-MARE 1

AFTER enjoying a rare overnight stay, Weston recorded their second away win of the Blue Square South season at Dover who started the day five places above the Seagulls and 10 points better off despite having played three games less.

The decision of an overnight stay was taken by the players and financed by them, so there was no charge on the club. Speaking afterwards to the Weston Mercury, manager Craig Laird said: “If that was the result against a club who are paying �10,000 a week in wages and have one player who is allegedly getting more than my entire budget, then we must try this again.”

Starting with the same squad that lost to Dartford in midweek, Weston were quickly in their stride with Kane Ingram testing home keeper Ross Fitney after two minutes and 17 minutes later they were unlucky not to take the lead when, from Ingram’s cross, Marcus Duharty had a downward header scrambled to safety off the goal-line.

Dover forced three corners and created their best chance on 23 minutes when the league’s leading scorer Adam Birchall saw his header taken under his crossbar by Weston keeper Lloyd Irish.

The crucial goal came a minute later when Dover conceded a corner from a Martin Slocombe free kick and Ingram’s flag kick sailed over Fitney’s head and nestled in the far corner of the net.

Dover were thrown a lifeline on 58 minutes when referee Dan Cook awarded them a penalty for hand ball, encouraged by a packed terrace behind the Weston goal and hotly disputed by Irish and his defenders, but the keeper flung himself to his left to turn Birchall’s spot kick round his post for a corner.

This miss seemed to take the heart out of Dover and although they defended doggedly their attack ran out of steam and Weston won more comfortably than the score suggests.

Near the end, Weston tried to make a substitution, so Irish delayed a goal kick and was cautioned for time-wasting.

WESTON STATS

Goal: Weston, Ingram (25).

Shots on target: Dover 4, Weston 4.

Shots off target: Dover 3, Weston 4.

Corners: Dover 9, Weston 5.

Offsides: Dover 5, Weston 4.

Free kicks conceded: Dover 15, Weston 13.

Referee: Dan Cook. Good game.

Bookings: Dover, Wynter. Weston, Gilbert, Kirk, Trowbridge, Irish.

Attendance: 726.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Rand, Laird, Porter, Ingram, Kirk, Duharty (Kabba 79), Gilbert (Dayle Grubb 71), Trowbridge (Diallo 89). Subs (not used): Dean Grubb, Villis.

ON Saturday, Weston will meet Bishop’s Stortford at the Woodspring Stadium (3pm) and will be looking for another win.