Weston slip up at home to high-spending visitors Chelmsford.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

CHELMSFORD CITY 2

WESTON slipped to their second Blue Square South home defeat against their high-spending Essex visitors. The loss leaves Weston in eighth spot in the table.

When under pressure, Chelmsford pulled all 11 men behind the ball and they relied in long relieving kicks to set up quick attacks through their speedy wide men Warren Whitley and Greg Morgan.

Weston were missing influential central defender Matt Villis, skipper Ben Kirk, both injured, and new signing Ben Cleverley, who had booked a holiday before signing for the club, and they were under pressure from the start.

Chelmsford opened their account on three minutes when Whitley broke down the right, slipped the ball inside to Sam Corcoran who crossed for Max Cornhill to beat Lloyd Irish just inside his near post.

The visitors forced two corners and it took Weston 20 minutes to develop their first attack, which resulted on a foul on Kane Ingram and Dayle Grubb sent a curling free kick just wide of the Chelmsford far post.

Minutes later, unmarked Jamie Price had the ball in the Chelmsford net, but Waterlooville referee Ben Knight awarded a free kick to the visitors, a decision that baffled the home supporters. Then Nat Pepperell was through on goal but wasted the chance by firing wildly wide.

Near half time, Nabi Diallo, who had a superb game in midfield, put Mike Mackay clear of the defence, but Ingram just failed to connect with Mackay’s square pass.

Weston had much the better of the second half, but their best chance fell to Ingram who fired narrowly across goal. Three minutes from the end of normal time, Chelmsford struck again when substitute Kezie Ibe scrambled in Corcoran’s free kick.

On the stroke of 90 minutes Pepperell got Weston’s consolation when he controlled Price’s back-heeled pass and beat keeper Carl Pentney on his near post.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Pepperell (90). Chelmsford, Cornhill (3), Ibe (87).

Shots on target: Weston 2, Chelmsford 3.

Shots off target: Weston 3, Chelmsford 3.

Corners: Weston 5, Chelmsford 7.

Offsides: Weston 6, Chelmsford 1.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 17, Chelmsford 18.

Referee: Ben Knight (Waterlooville). Far too much whistle and made some baffling decisions.

Bookings: Weston, Ingram Price, Diallo. Chelmsford, Rainford, Cook.

Attendance: 431.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Grubb, Martin, Jamie Laird, Ingram, Diallo, Mackay, Young, Pepperell. Subs (not used): Huxley, Kirk, Booth.

ON Saturday, Weston travel to West London to take on bottom club Hampton and Richmond Borough, who have picked up only three points from their nine games.

Weston’s top scorer last season Marcus Duharty underwent a foot operation earlier this week and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.