Weston claimed bragging rites over Bath with an excellent 2-0 victory.

WESTON-S-MARE 2

BATH CITY 0

THIS was one Skrill South game Weston wanted to win, and they did it in some style. They now have blagging rites in this local derby over their Somerset rivals.

In contrast to Saturday’s game in Surrey, Weston enjoyed a perfect pitch which they used to full advantage, playing their one-touch passing game and giving little opportunities to the fifth placed Romans.

From Saturday’s starting line-up, manager Craig Laird made one change bringing on Kane Ingram for Alec Fiddes, who was on the bench. After 12 minutes, Jordan Walker pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury and Callum Laird took over in defence.

The visitors created the first chance on 11 minutes when former Weston wide man Ross Stearn was fouled just outside the Weston penalty area, but Dan Bowman’s free kick was blocked by the defence.

Two minutes later the Bath goal had a let-off when Ashley Kington’s distance effort beat keeper Jason Mellor, but came back off the inside of the far upright and was scrambled to safety.

Bath forced their first corner on 15 minutes when Jake Reid’s header was scrambled behind by home keeper Lloyd Irish, but minutes later at the other end, Chas Hemmings saw his header go just wide from Ben Kirk’s cross.

Weston were beginning to dominate, forcing two consecutive corners and Dayle Grubb skimmed the Bath crossbar with a free kick. Then, from another Bath corner, Reid went close.

From the start of the second half, Weston took control, forcing a couple of corners with Kington just over and Naby Diallo’s shot turned behind. In a Bath attack, Stearn had a low free kick turned behind for Bath’s fourth corner.

The deadlock was broken on 75 minutes when Bath skipper Andy Gallinah handled an effort by Diallo and Kington made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Bath tried hard to get into the game, bringing on Josh Low for Reid and Aaron Brown for Stearn and there was a nasty incident when Weston’s Dan Gregson suffered a depressed cheek bone in a clash with an opponent and was taken to hospital. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, Gregson may miss the rest of the season.

In a lengthy added-on time, Weston mounted an attack, and Grubb burst through on the left, cut inside and fired across Mellor into the far corner of the net.

WESTON STATS -

Goals: Weston, Kington (75, penalty), Grubb (90+6).

Shots on target: Weston 5, Bath 3.

Shots off target: Weston 5, Bath 4.

Corners: Weston 7, Bath 5.

Offsides: Weston 0, Bath 3.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 10, Bath 11.

Referee: David Woolford (Andover). Good game.

Bookings: Weston, Callum Laird. Bath, Bowman, Gallinah, Connolly, Reid

Attendance: 357.

Weston squad: Irish, Ingram (Fiddes 85), Slocombe, Walker (Callum Laird 12), Jamie Laird, Gregson (Knowles 90), Kirk, Diallo, Hemmings, Kington, Grubb. Subs (not used): Ash, Brown.