Weston registered their first victory and first goals in six games against Farnborough.

WESTON-S-MARE 2

FARNBOROUGH 1

WESTON manager Craig Laird shuffled his pack with success as the squad registered their first win and first goals in six games.

Lloyd Irish was back in goal in place of Luke Purnell, teenager Syd Camper, in his second appearance for the club, was preferred to Chas Hemmings, who is struggling to find form at present, and Alec Fiddes was preferred to Jordan Walker, who is still not fully fit.

Another teenager, Bradley Ash, came on early in the second half for Callum Laird, who picked up a knock.

Farnborough made a bright start, with Fraser Colmer heading just over on five minutes, and from their first corner in 13 minutes, Irish took Adam Doyle’s header under his crossbar. Minutes later, skipper Josh Huggins fired narrowly across goal.

As Weston got into the game, Brett Trowbridge headed over from Dayle Grubb’s free kick on 35 minutes and then Martin Slocombe ended a good run on the left with a low cross cut out by visiting keeper Ross Fitzsimmons, on loan from Crystal Palace.

A minute before the interval, Farnborough opened the scoring when JJ Hooper, on loan from Northampton Town, beat Irish when put through by Phil Page.

But straight from the restart, Weston attacked and Camper was put through by Naby Diallo and the youngster evaded a strong challenge to fire under the body of Fitzsimmons for the equaliser.

Weston began to dominate early in the second half, with Grubb and Fiddes forcing a superb double save from Fitzsimmons on 65 minutes, and the home side did better on 70 minutes when Ashley Kington left the visiting keeper standing with sublime snap shot from 25 yards.

Late on, Farnborough brought on two strikers to try to salvage at least a point from the game, but the home defence of Slocombe, Jamie Laird, Ollie Kearns, and Trowbridge, who had dropped back when Callum Laird came off, were dominant and although the visitors forced four corners, there was little danger to the home goal.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Camper (45), Kington (70). Farnborough, Hooper (44).

Shots on target: Weston 4, Farnborough 3.

Shots off target: Weston 3, Farnborough 5.

Corners: Weston 2, Farnborough 6.

Offsides: Weston 3, Farnborough 4.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 3, Farnborough 9.

Bookings: Weston, Kington.

Referee: Andrew Laver (Portsmouth). Good game. Allowed play to flow

Attendance: 210.

Weston squad: Irish, Knowles, Slocombe, Callum Laird (Ash 47), Jamie Laird, Fiddes, Diallo, Trowbridge, Camper (Ingram 90), Grubb. Subs (not used): Walker, Hemmings, Purnell.

ON Saturday, Weston make the long trip to league leaders Bromley and will be without Dan Gregson who is suspended for one game and skipper Ben Kirk, who will be out for the remainder of the season with a leg injury.

The party will be leaving at 9am.

GOSPORT BOROUGH 0

WESTON-S-MARE 0

WESTON’S weakened squad picked up another valuable Skrill South point on their first-ever visit to FA Trophy finalists Gosport.

Missing were skipper Ben Kirk (ill), Dayle Grubb (hamstring), Naby Diallo (suspended), Kane Ingram (work-tied), and Dan Gregson limped off after 26 minutes with a damaged ankle, Academy product Bradley Ash taking over.

Luke Purnell took over in goal from Lloyd Irish and he made a couple of crucial saves as the home side began to dominate.

On a bumpy Privett Park surface, good football was at a premium with both sides having trouble controlling the light ball. Passes went astray everywhere and there was little goalmouth activity until late on.

In a lack-lustre first half, the nearest either side came to scoring came on 18 minutes when Gosport’s Tim Sills fired over the Weston crossbar from six yards with the whole of the goal at his mercy.

Weston’s best chance fell to Ashley Kington whose 53rd minute effort shaved a home post.

Midway through the second period, Gosport brought on Justin Bennett for Sills and he proved a thorn in Weston’s side forcing two point-blank saves in quick succession from Purnell as Gosport forced several corners.

WESTON STATS

Shots on target: Gosport 4, Weston 1.

Shots off target: Gosport 6, Weston 3.

Corners: Gosport 5, Weston 3.

Offsides: Gosport 5, Weston 3.

Free kicks conceded: Gosport 7, Weston 11.

Bookings: Gosport, Poate.

Referee: Mr L Venamore (Maidstone). Average. Made some contentious decisions for both sides.

Attendance: 335.

Weston squad: Purnell, Callum Laird, Slocombe, Walker, Jamie Laird, Gregson (Ash 26), Knowles, Trowbridge, Hemmings, Kington, Fiddes. Subs (not used): Llewellyn, Camper, McGregor, Irish.