Weston defeat Maidenhead 4-2 to pick up their first double of the season.

WESTON-S-MARE 4

MAIDENHEAD UNITED 2

WESTON are back up to eighth place in the Blue Square South table as they recorded their first league double of the season. The squad are hitting a purple patch, having picked up seven from nine points in the past eight days.

They welcomed back fans’ favourite striker Marc McGregor for his fifth spell with the club and he came off the substitutes’ bench to score their third goal.

Before the game Dayle Grubb was presented with the October man of the match award and he reinforced that accolade by scoring twice.

The visitors had three former Seagulls in their squad, Leigh Henry, who came to Weston on loan from Swindon Town, Manny Williams and Ashan Holgate, who came on as a substitute in the second half.

Maidenhead made a bright start with Leon Soloman forcing a full-length save from Lloyd Irish on nine minutes and two minutes later Soloman’s free kick was turned behind by Irish.

The visitors’ goal had a scare on 13 minutes when an attempted clearance by keeper Billy Lumley was charged down by Kane Ingram, but luckily for the keeper, the rebound fell into his arms.

Weston opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Nat Pepperell, on the far post, rose above the defence to meet Ingram’s cross and beat Lumley. A minute later, Weston struck again when Chris Young, who had another good game without reward, set up Grubb to beat Lumley from 10 yards.

After that the game petered out for a long period, with Weston giving the appearance the job was done. Before the break, as Maidenhead tried to get back, Bradley Quamina and Martel Powell had low efforts blocked by the home defence.

After a stern talking-to during the interval by manager Johnson Hippolyte, Maidenhead came out all guns blazing, forcing a couple of corners and they were rewarded on 54 minutes when Williams was put through by Powell’s pass to narrow the margin.

Young was desperately unlucky not to score on 60 minutes when he burst through the defence and rounded Lumley, but he was forced wide and the keeper recovered to save his shot.

Just after this, Sahr Kabba had replaced Ingram and McGregor had taken over from Young, and Weston restored their two-goal advantage on 83 minutes. Kabba was fouled wide on the right by Marcus Rose, which earned a booking for the giant defender. Ben Cleverley curled a perfect free kick into the six-yard box and McGregor scored with a glancing header.

Maidenhead did not give up, however, forcing another couple of corners and Soloman hitting the angle of post and bar. They pulled another goal back in the 90th minute when substitute Paul Semakula used his strength to muscle his way through the defence and score.

Four minutes into added-on time, Grubb picked up a loose ball and burst through to score just before referee Brett Huxtable blew for full time.

WESTON STATS -

Goals: Weston, Pepperell (20), Grubb (21, 90+4), McGregor (83). Maidenhead, Williams (54), Semakula (90).

Shots on target: Weston 6, Maidenhead 4

Shots off target: Weston 4, Maidenhead 4.

Corners: Weston 2, Maidenhead 9.

Offsides: Weston 1, Maidenhead 0.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 10, Maidenhead 13.

Referee: Brett Huxtable (Torrington). Generally good game.

Bookings: Weston, Martin, Ingram, Slocombe. Maidenhead, Soloman, Powell, Rose, Semakula.

Attendance: 307.

Weston squad: Irish, Martin, Slocombe, Grubb, Villis, Laird, Ingram (Kabba 80), Kirk, Young (McGregor 75), Cleverley, Pepperell. Subs (not used): Diallo, Seely, Cureton.

ON Saturday, Weston begin their FA Trophy campaign with a trip to Salisbury. When the sides met in the league in August at Weston, the home side ran out 2-0 winners, with goals by Jamie Price and Nat Pepperell.

Should a replay be necessary, it will be played at the Woodspring Stadium on Tuesday, November 29 (7.45pm) with extra time and penalties if necessary.