Weston’s five-game unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as Bath avenged their Boxing Day defeat.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

BATH CITY 4

WESTON’S five-game unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as Bath avenged their Boxing Day defeat. Weston have now slipped to sixth spot in the Blue Square South, but only on goal difference.

In an entertaining first-half, Weston had most of the play, but found themselves trailing, thanks to superb goalkeeping by Bath’s Jason Mellor and then conceding two simple goals. However, the second half was a dull affair with the visitors sealing the win near the end.

Inside the first minute, Weston forced their first corner when Kayne McClaggon sped down the right and Mellor did well to turn the shot behind.

Mellor brought off another good save on eight minutes when he turned Ashley Kington’s piledriver free kick over his bar.

But it all went wrong a minute later when Josh Low got free on the right and crossed for Tom Nicholls, on loan from Exeter City, to turn the ball past Lloyd Irish.

After Kington was just over with another free kick, Bath struck again on 12 minutes when, from Low’s corner kick, Charlie Griffin scored with an unmarked header.

As Weston tried to get back, McClaggon had a header beaten out by Mellor and Ross Stearn had an effort blocked on the line. Weston were given a lifeline on 26 minutes when Jamie Price was felled and Stearn beat Mellor from the penalty spot.

The Bath keeper made a superb double save with his legs on 36 minutes, first from Stearn and then McClaggon from the rebound. Later, Kington was just off target with an effort and Weston forced two more corners.

Stearn should have done better on 55 minutes when he fired just wide from Price’s pass with only Mellor to beat.

But as Bath took control, Adam Connolly had an effort taken at the second attempt by Irish, both Low and Nicholls went close with efforts. Bath struck again on 70 minutes when Low sliced through the defence, cut inside and easily beat Irish.

Although Weston forced three more corners and Bath skipper Gethin Jones headed off his line from Weston substitute Dayle Grubb, Bath completed their tally in added-on time when substitute Mike Stephenson scored from Nicholls’ run on the right.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Stearn (26 penalty). Bath, Nicholls (9), Griffin (12), Low (70), Stephenson (90+2).

Shots on target: Weston 10, Bath 6

Shots off target: Weston 6, Bath 4.

Corners: Weston 8, Bath 3.

Offsides: Weston 6, Bath 4.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 7, Bath 12.

Referee: Steven Plane (Pershore). Good game.

Bookings: Weston Villis. Bath, Alan.

Attendance: 439.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Monks (Diallo 80), Kington, Villis, Jamie Laird, Stearn (Egan 87), Kirk, McClaggon (Grubb 70), Trowbridge, Ingram. Subs (not used): Slocombe, Callum Laird.

Bath City: Mellor, Simpson, Ball, Burnell, Jones, Connolly, Keats, Allen (Canham 70), Nicholls, Griffin (Stephenson 78), Low (Morgan 74). Subs (not used): Preece, Brown.

WESTON announce the signing of Spanish midfielder Anton Alvarez Alando until the end of the season and is expected to be included in the squad at Hayes and Yeading on Saturday, provided international clearance comes through.

The player was with manager Craig Laird at Bridgwater some seasons ago when he was a student at UWE and has now returned to work in this country.