Weston pushed Vanarama National League South league leaders all they way, but were narrowly beaten in an entertaining game.

EBBSFLEET UNITED 2

WESTON-S-MARE 1

EBBSFLEET, already five points clear at the top of the Vanarama National League South, were pushed all the way by bottom side Weston who deserved to take at least a point from an entertaining game.

For this game, manager Ryan Northmore rested Tristan Plummer, Tsvetan Folipov and Mitchell Page, bringing in Alex Byrne, Scott Wilson and Jake Mawford.

The home side, eager for their tenth win, pressed from the start and came close on three minutes when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Weston penalty area, but keeper Luke Purnell turned Danny Kedwell’s bullet kick over his crossbar for the game’s first corner.

Purnell was in action again, on nine minutes, turning Stuart Lewis’ effort over his bar, while at the other end, in an isolated attack, Byrne went close for Weston.

Fleet pressure paid off on 21 minutes when Matt Fish crossed for Jordan Parkes to set up Kedwell to beat Purnell.

Weston began to come more into the game, forcing two successive corners on 25 minutes, and home keeper Brandon Hall was in action on 34 minutes, turning Ollie Barnes’ header over his bar from Dayle Grubb’s free kick.

Four minutes into the second half, Fleet doubled their lead when from a dubious free kick by Joe Howe, the ball was headed down for skipper Tom Bonner to score from eight yards.

Weston used their bench, bringing on Filitov for Jake Mawford, Jake Llewellyn for Jacob Cane and Bradley Ash for Wilson, as all three had worked extremely hard.

The changes worked, when, in the 66th minute, Joe McClennan, who had an outstanding game wide on the right, causing all sorts of problems for the home defence, crossed low for Filitov to score his first goal for the club.

After that, Fleet again took control with Purnell making another fine save to deny Parks

WESTON STATS

Goals: Fleet, Kedwell (21), Bonner (49). Weston, Filitov (66).

Shots on target: Fleet 7, Weston 3.

Shots off target: Fleet 6, Weston 3.

Corners: Fleet 8, Weston 3.

Offsides: Fleet 4.

Free kicks conceded: Fleet 5, Weston 14.

Referee: Rob Mackay. Average game. Missed several incidents.

Bookings: Fleet, Lewis. Weston, Barnes.

Attendance: 2,045.

Weston squad: Purnell, McClennan, Cane (Llewellyn 64), Keary, Barnes, Fortune, Edge, Byrne, Wilson (Ash 79), Grubb, Mawford (Filipov 64). Subs (not used): Withey, Pope