STAINES TOWN 3 WESTON-S-MARE 0 - WESTON were denied perhaps a share of the spoils on their first-ever visit to Staines thanks to conceding three sloppy first-half goals and some superb saves by the home keeper.

STAINES TOWN 3

WESTON-S-MARE 0

WESTON were denied perhaps a share of the spoils on their first-ever visit to Staines thanks to conceding three sloppy first-half goals and some superb saves by the home keeper.

Missing Jack Compton and Adi Harris, both suspended, Weston gave a debut to on-loan midfielder Chris Sheppard from Exeter City, and they fell behind in only the second minute when they failed to cut out Leroy Griffiths' cross from the left and Darty Brown set up Elliot Onochie to rifle the ball to the roof of the net from eight yards. Minutes later Scott Taylor fired over from a good position and Onochie, only on the field as the original choice Ali Chaaban was injured in the warm-up, forced a good save from Kevin Sawyer.

As Weston got into the game, Sheppard had a strong effort from Marvin Brown's pass blocked by a defender and a minute later Dale Grubb was brought down by Dominic Sterling, but keeper Louis Wells guessed correctly to Brown's penalty kick, turning the ball over his crossbar.

Wells was in action again on 35 minutes, denying Grubb who was put through by Sheppard for a one-on-one, but two minutes later Staines struck again when Dean Thomas fired in Griffiths' corner through Onochie's legs with Sawyer unsighted.

Staines added their third on 40 minutes when from another Griffiths corner, Sterling headed the ball on for Onochie to grab his second of the day from close range. Two minutes later, at the other end, Wells did well to claim Sheppard's cross as Grubb and Brown closed in.

Weston looked sharper in the second half with Brown firing feet wide on 50 minutes and then he forced a full-length save from Wells with a shot on the turn. Josh Klein-Davis replaced Sheppard and he forced another corner as did Grubb, but they failed to beat Wells. Another of the Under-19s Academy squad Jake Harris played for the final eight minutes.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Staines, Onochie (2, 40), Thomas (37).

Shots on target: Staines 7, Weston 5.

Shots off target: Staines 3, Weston 5.

Corners: Staines 8, Weston 8.

Offsides: Staines 5, Weston 2.

Free kicks conceded: Staines 12, Weston 9.

Referee: Adrian Quelch (Burghfield Common, Berkshire). Excellent game.

Bookings: Staines, Scarlett. Weston, Bartlett.

Attendance: 260.

Weston squad: Sawyer, Green, Hart, Mullings, Evans (Rand 71), Fortune, Grubb, Bartlett, Cleverley, Brown (Harris 82), Sheppard (Klein-Davis 54). Subs (not used): Wells, Osman.

WESTON now have no scheduled game until Boxing Day when they face Bath City in a local derby and the return fixture will be played on New Year's Day at Twerton Park.

Hopefully, manager Andy Gurney will be able to sort out the defensive problems by then.

WESTON have announced the signing of midfielder Ben Osman, son of Russell Osman, from Conference National Salisbury City, whom he joined at the beginning of this season.