Weston secured an away point at Sutton United, but still remain in the relegation zone.

SUTTON UNITED 0

WESTON-S-MARE 0

WESTON gave a battling performance to pick up a valuable Vanarama National South point and frustrate their hosts who were confident of a win to put pressure on the two sides above them in the table.

Unfortunately for Weston the point was not enough to lift them out of the relegation zone.

The visitors had Jake Llewellyn in defence, who did a superb job in marking former Seagull Ross Stearn, while influential captain Dayle Grubb, back from injury, had his usual solid game in midfield.

Sutton were in control from the start with Dan Fitchett and Stearn just off target, but in Weston’s first attack, Joe McClennan had his shot turned over by keeper Ross Worner.

As Sutton piled on pressure, forcing several corners, Weston keeper Luke Purnell gave a man of the match performance, denying Simon Downer’s bullet header with a point blank save. Then Purnell got down well to deny Craig Dundas’ deflected shot with another point blank save.

Luckily for Weston, Sutton wasted some great chances, firing just wide or over the crossbar at least 10 times as well as forcing 11 corners.

Weston’s best chance of the game fell to Grubb whose free kick over the defensive wall was turned over by Worner at full stretch for the visitors’ second corner. In another Weston attack, Scott Wilson just failed to connect with Ben Withey’s low cross.

In added on time at the end of the game, Stearn came close when he fired narrowly across goal with Purnell for once beaten.

WESTON STATS

Shots on target: Sutton 4, Weston 2.

Shots off target: Sutton 10, Weston 3.

Corners: Sutton 11, Weston 2.

Offside: Sutton 3, Weston 3.

Free kicks conceded: Sutton 15, Weston 7.

Referee: Paul Kelly (Chatham) Good game.

Bookings: Sutton, Beckwith, Eastmond, Bailey. Weston, Purnell.

Attendance: 850.

Weston squad: Purnell, Withey, Llewellyn, Ingram, Keary, Fortune, McClennan (Pope 47), Cane (Wring 79), Wilson (Plummer), Grubb, Byrne. Subs (not used): Edge, Variouxaski.

ON Saturday, Weston will take the long journey to Maidstone in Kent for the return game.

On Tuesday next, Weston will entertain Bath-based side Odd Down, in the quarter-final of the Somerset Premier Cup. This game will be played to a conclusion with extra time and a penalty shoot-out if necessary.