Weston slipped to their seventh successive Blue Square South defeat, but gave a much-improved display.

WELLING UNITED 2

WESTON-S-MARE 0

ALTHOUGH Weston crashed to their seventh successive Blue Square South defeat, they gave a much-improved display and with a little bit of luck might have come away from Park View Road with at least a share of the spoils.

They played some attractive football, especially in the second half, but they failed to capitalise on their few clear-cut chances.

Weston were without skipper Ben Kirk, Marcus Duharty and Mark McGregor, all work tied, while Nabi Diallo was starting a two-match ban. Kane Ingram was back from suspension, while youngsters Jake Mawford and Jack Camm were on the substitutes’ bench along with Dayle Grubb.

After conceding an early corner, Weston created a good move, finished by Ingram forcing the first of six corners when home keeper Craig Holloway went full length to turn the shot round his post.

Slightly against the run of play, Welling broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when player-manager Jamie Day laid a free kick off for skipper Jack Parkinson to beat Lloyd Irish with a superb 30-yard effort just inside Weston’s far post.

Three minutes into the second half, Chris Young was just wide of the Welling far post with a curling effort, but two minutes later the Wings struck again when an attempted Weston clearance rebounded off a Welling player and shot into the air. The ball fell only as far as Welling’s Loick Pires who easily scored.

As Weston tried to come back, Sahr Kabba had a shot beaten out by Holloway on 53 minutes and two minutes later Grubb, just on for Young, forced another corner from a full-length save by Holloway.

Weston had strong claims for a penalty ignored by Norwich referee Lee Betts when Kabba was sent sprawling by Holloway’s challenge, but a goal kick was given.

Martin Slocombe was just wide from Nat Pepperell’s cross on 80 minutes, but at the other end minutes later, Irish had to come off his line to block Joe Healy’s effort with his legs.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Welling, Parkinson (35), Pires (50).

Shots on target: Welling 4, Weston 3.

Shots off target: Welling 3, Weston 4.

Corners: Welling 3, Wesston 7.

Offsides: Welling 6, Weston 1.

Free kicks conceded: Welling 16, Weston 11.

Referee: Lee Betts (Norwich). On the whole a good game.

Bookings: Welling, Achgmpong. Weston, Slocombe.

Attendance: 387.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Young (Grubb 49),Villis, Laird, Trowbridge, Cleverley, Kabba, Ingram, Pepperell (Mawford 85). Sub (not used): Camm.