WESTON boss Craig Laird wants to instil an ‘Alamo spirit’ in his players to help them bounce back from a five match losing streak.

After recent results the Seagulls have dropped to eighth in the Blue Square South table and are now 10 points off a play-off position.

But Laird has been handed a boost by the news that goalkeeper Lloyd Irish, who was forced off with concussion in Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Sutton United, will be available against Dorchester Town this weekend.

The keeper collided with Sutton’s Craig Watkins only 15 minutes into Saturday’s match at Gander Goose, and although he carried on to warm applause from the away fans, he collapsed seven minutes later.

He was taken to hospital with blurred vision and concussion, and defender Jamie Price took his place between the sticks with Sahr Kabba entering the fray from the bench.

Kabba took only four minutes to make an impact, scoring after Brett Trowbridge’s shot had rebounded off the foot of a post.

However the home side equalised five minutes after the break, Kyle Vassell leaving Price standing with a low effort from 18 yards.

They then took the lead on 56 minutes when Harry Beautyman scored from Michael Boateng’s cross.

But Kabba scored again on 64 minutes for his 13th goal of the season and was only denied a hat-trick minutes later by a superb save from keeper Kevin Scriven.

Although the Seagulls battled gamely, Sutton struck the decisive blow on 75 minutes when giant defender Craig Dundas scored with a near-post header.

Despite the team’s recent poor run, which has seen Weston drop below Eastleigh and Dover in the play-off push, Craig said he and his players remain upbeat.

He said: “Out of the five games, I’d say we have only played poorly for two-and-a-half of them, and it’s been a combination of that and some rotten luck.

“Football’s like that – you can be flying, as we were at the beginning of the year, and it can give you a nasty kick.

“We’ve been working on defending in training but it’s not been from a specific area that we’ve been conceding goals. The squad is still bubbly and confident.

“As quickly as our luck changed for the worst, so it can change for the better, and I’m confident we can get back to winning ways soon.

“We just need that Alamo spirit, to prove that we can perform when we have our backs to the wall.”

Craig will be looking for that revival to start in Weston’s next league match, at home to Dorchester United on Saturday, before a trip to Welling United on Tuesday.

As the Mercury went to press, the Seagulls were playing Frome United away in the Somerset Premier Cup as they look to retain the trophy they won last year.

Despite his potentially serious injury, Irish is expected to play on Saturday, with only centre-back Matt Villis struggling with a thigh injury.