Weston moved to third spot in the Skrill South League thanks to their third successive victory.

WESTON-S-MARE 3

BOREHAM WOOD 0

WITH their best start for several seasons, Weston move up to third in the Skrill South League, thanks to their third successive win, this time over their Hertfordshire visitors.

Chairman Paul Bliss said: “This is the first competitive game I have been able to watch this season and hasn’t there been an improvement since last season. We played as a unit, keeping possession at the back and bursting forward through the midfield with Ashley Kington outstanding, not wasting a pass for the whole game.”

The visitors, however, had to play the entire second half with only 10 men when central defender, the former Southend United and Gillingham player, Mark Bentley, was dismissed for receiving a second caution in added-on time at the end of the first half.

Before the game, groundsman Bob Flaskett was using the undersoil sprinkler system to water the pitch, but when the referee blew his whistle to start the game, the heavens opened, making underfoot conditions tricky, with players slipping and sliding on the soaked surface.

Boreham made the better start, Greg Morgan testing Luke Purnell with a distance effort on five minutes and forcing a couple of corners four minutes later. Mario Noto fired a free kick narrowly over the home crossbar on 26 minutes and just before the break, Graeme Montgomery was narrowly wide with an effort.

With a man advantage, Weston took control of the second half and broke the deadlock on 48 minutes when skipper Jamie Laird beat former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international James Russell with an unmarked header from Dale Grubb’s corner.

Minutes later, Naby Diallo forced a smart save from Russell and then Martin Slocombe finished a strong run by firing into the side netting.

Weston struck again on 62 minutes with the goal of the game when Tristan Plummer beat Russell with a rising shot to finish a superb flowing move down the right, involving Slocombe, Grubb and Diallo.

Straight after Grubb was just over and later he forced another good save from Russell.

To their credit, Boreham refused to lie down and brought on three substitutes. Jake Woolley made several strong runs at the home defence and on 75 minutes forced Purnell to come off his line to block a fierce effort, his one serious save of the game.

Five minutes from time, Kane Ingram forced Weston’s fourth corner when Russell did well, coming off his line, but Ingram did better three minutes later when he had the simple task of beating Russell from close range when Charlie O’Loughlin slipped when in possession and gave the ball away.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Laird (48), Plummer (62), Ingram (88).

Shots on target: Weston 5, Boreham 2.

Shots off target: Weston 6, Boreham 3.

Corners: Weston 5, Boreham 4.

Offsides: Weston 2, Boreham 3.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 7, Boreham 7.

Referee: Chris Powell (Poole). Excellent game.

Bookings: Weston, Slocombe, Plummer. Boreham, Cox, Bentley (2 yellows).

Attendance: 212.

Weston squad: Purnell, Slocombe, Monks, Diallo, Laird, Knowles, Grubb (Fiddes 87), Trowbridge (Kirk 69), Plummer (Hemmings (82), Ingram, Kington. Subs (not used): Jeanne, McClaggon.

ON Friday afternoon (4pm), the Weston party will leave for an overnight stop at Dover Athletic on Saturday and will be hoping to keep up their winning form.

On Tuesday, September 17, Weston entertain Maidenhead United at the Woodspring Stadium (7.45pm).