Weston conceded two goals in the first 15 minutes and went down to defeat at Hayes and Yeading.

HAYES & YEADIING UNITED 2

WESTON-S-MARE 1

CONCEDING two goals inside the first 15 minutes sent Weston crashing to their second successive Blue Square South defeat and they drop to seventh in the table.

The game was played at Woking’s Kingfield Stadium and Hayes’ own ground at Beaconsfield Road is under reconstruction and will not be available for at least a couple of seasons.

From the side beaten by Bath City in midweek, Martin Slocombe was brought back into the defence with Naby Diallo dropping to the bench, along with Chas Hemmings, back from injury, and the Stoke City youngster Manny Parry who is back for a second loan period.

The home side made a positive start, forcing a corner on three minutes and taking the lead four minutes later when Jamie Hand’s free kick was headed back by Josh Ekim to Adam Bygrave who was given space to slot past Lloyd Irish.

As Weston pressed, they forced two corners, only for Kudus Oyenuga to fire narrowly wide and the side did better on 14 minutes when Tom Cadmore outjumped the Weston defence to head home Hand’s corner kick.

Irish was in action again on 16 minutes when he did well to tip Jamal Lowe’s header over his bar from Oyenuga’s pass.

Weston came close on 28 minutes when home keeper Brandon Hall did well to hack Ashley Kington’s effort to safety as Kayne McClaggon closed in. Two minutes later Ross Stearn’s effort was turned over his bar by Hall.

Irish had to concede another corner on 33 minutes from Cox’s fierce shot, but Weston pulled a goal back on 38 minutes when a long pass out of defence was controlled by Dayle Grubb who lobbed the home keeper from 25 yards. Although Hall managed to get a hand on the effort above his head, he was unable to prevent it going in.

Weston pressed hard for an equaliser before the break, but all they had to show was Stearn firing narrowly wide from McClaggon’s pass and Slocombe going close with a free kick.

Weston dominated the second half and almost scored when Grubb seized on a mistake by Hall, but he was dispossessed by the keeper who recovered well.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Hayes, Bygrave (7), Cadmore (14). Weston, Grubb (38).

Shots on target: Hayes 4, Weston 2.

Shots off target: Hayes 4, Weston 4.

Corners: Hayes 4, Weston 4.

Offsides: Hayes 7, Weston 3.

Free kicks conceded: Hayes 13, Weston 16.

Referee: Lloyd Wood (London). Good game, but was not well supported by one of his officials, who upset both benches by some of his decisions.

Bookings: Hayes, Cox, Ekim. Weston, McClaggon, Price.

Attendance: 120.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Trowbridge, Villis, Laird, Stearn, Kirk, McClaggon (Hemmings 67), Kington (Ingram 83), Grubb. Subs (not used): Diallo, Monks, Parry.

ON Saturday, Weston are at home to Dorchester Town (3pm) and hope to have new signing Spaniard Anton Aluarez and Stoke City loanee Manny Parry in their ranks as they look to bounce back from two straight Blue Square South defeats.

The club is holding a fans’ forum at the ground on Sunday next, January 20 (11am). Topics to be discussed include some new and exciting developments as well as an assessment of the season so far by manager Craig Laird.