An 83rd minute goal by Jake Mawford gave Weston victory over Margate.
WESTON 1
MARGATE 0
WESTON are just one point from Vanarama Conference South safety following this win over full-time Margate and they have games in hand over the clubs just above them.
The only goal of an entertaining game was scored in the 83rd minute by substitute Jake Mawford in his first game back from a loan spell at Paulton Rovers of the Southern Premier League.
Manager Ryan Northmore shuffled his pack, recalling Jake Llewellyn, Jamie Edge and Joe McClennan to the starting line-up in place of Ollie Barnes, Kane Ingram and Danny Pope.
Margate, hoping to bounce back from four straight defeats, were first to show, forcing a corner in the opening minutes. They came close on six minutes when Dion Dembie-Ferris, on loan from Colchester United, burst through the home defence, but keeper Luke Purnell was quickly off his lime to clear.
As Weston began to take control, Tristan Plummer had two strong efforts beaten out by Margate keeper Chris Lewington and just before the break Lewington had to go full-length to turn skipper Dayle Grubb’s low free kick behind for a corner.
Early in the second half, Margate attacked strongly, forcing a couple of corners and Dembie-Ferris and Luke Moore went close with headers.
Back came Weston, forcing a corner with Mawford, who replaced McClennan, heading narrowly over and Ingram, on for Edge, had a strong effort beaten out by Lewington.
After the goal, Margate dominated looking for an equaliser and they forced several corners, but the home defence of Sekani Simpson, Llewellyn, Clayton Fortune and Pat Keary well protected Purnell, denying efforts on target.
WESTON STATS
Goal: Weston, Mawford (83).
Shots on target: Weston 5, Margate 1.
Shots off target: Weston 4, Margate 4.
Corners: Weston 6, Margate 7.
Offsides: Weston 1, Margate 6.
Free kicks conceded: Weston 5, Margate 9.
Referee: Savvas Yianni. A late replacement and had an excellent game.
Bookings: Margate Wassmer.
Attendance: 416.
Weston squad: Purnell, Simpson, Llewellyn, Cane, Keary, Fortune, McClennan (Mawford 71), Plummer (Pope 85), Wilson, Grubb, Edge (Ingram 71). Subs (not used): Varouxakis, Wring.
ON Saturday, Weston travel to bottom side Basingstoke Town and on Tuesday are away at Truro City.
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