Weston move up to fourth spot after second away win of the season.

MAIDENHEAD UNITED 1

WESTON-S-MARE 3

WESTON are in fourth spot in the Blue Square South table following their second away win of the season.

Maidenhead started the day a point in front of the Seagulls, following back-to-back wins over Farnborough and Truro City, but were outplayed by a squad who are growing in confidence.

Manager Craig Laird again shuffled his attack, with Chris Young and Matt Huxley up front and Jamie Laird taking over from Jak Martin in midfield.

Weston went on the attack straight from the kick-off and on two minutes Nat Pepperell was inches wide with a header from Martin Slocombe’s cross. Then Kane Ingram tested home keeper Jon Nydell and Dayle Grubb sent a swerving 19-yard free kick just wide of Nydell’s far post.

Weston’s pressure paid off on 22 minutes when Ingram, on the bye-line, laid the ball back for skipper Ben Kirk to beat Nydell from 25 yards.

The Seagulls came close again on 25 minutes when Pepperell made a penetrating run on the right, but his cross was cut out by Nydell as Huxley closed in, while at the other end, Anthony Thomas gave an easy save to Lloyd Irish, the home side’s first shot on target of the game.

A minute before the interval, Weston lost Kirk who picked up a knock, Nabi Diallo taking over.

Early in the second half, Weston kept pressure on the Maidenhead defence, forcing their fourth corner and Diallo going close on 50 minutes. They struck again on 66 minutes with a move straight out of the training ground.

They were awarded a free kick just outside the home penalty area, taken by Ingram. With the home defence expecting Ingram to pump the ball into the crowded six-yard area, he played it wide to unmarked Jamie Price on the right who made ground before rifling the ball into the far corner of Nydell’s net.

Two minutes later, Maidenhead pulled a goal back from a bizarre incident when Irish came outside his area to head away a Maidenhead attack, but he unfortunately crashed into one of his team-mates and as he lay on the ground injured, former Weston favourite Ashan Holgate set up another ex-Seagull Manny Williams to score from 25 yards. Minutes later, Williams had the miss of the match when he fired wide after being put clear of the Weston defence.

As Weston came back, on 90 minutes, Pepperell was desperately unlucky to see his shot beat Nydell but come back off the angle of post and bar. However, in seven minutes of added on time, substitute Sahr Kabba outpaced the home defence and unselfishly square the ball to Ingram to score with a tap-in.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Maidenhead, Williams 70. Weston, Kirk (22), Price (66), Ingram (90).

Shots on target: Maidenhead 2, Weston 5.

Shots off target: Maidenhead 7, Weston 3.

Corners: Maidenhead 4, Weston 5.

Offsides: Maidenhead 2, Weston 2.

Free kicks conceded: Maidenhead 14, Weston 15.

Referee: Ian Cooper (Rochester). Excellent game.

Bookings: Maidenhead, Behzadi. Weston, Ingram, Irish, Young.

Attendance: 375.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Grubb, Villis, Jamie Laird, Ingram, Kirk (Diallo 44), Young, Huxley (Kabba 79), Pepperell. Subs (not used): Cleverley, Hunt, Martin.

WESTON have a busy Blue Square South week starting on Saturday when they host high-spending Chelmsford City (3pm).

On Tuesday, they travel to Dorchester Town (7.45pm) with the team coach leaving Woodspring Stadium at 4pm.

Latest Blue Square South League table:

P W D L Pts

Welling United 6 1 1 19

Woking 5 2 1 17

Dartford 5 2 1 17

WESTON 5 0 3 15

Salisbury City 4 2 2 14

Sutton United 4 2 2 14