Weston’s four-game Blue Square South winning run was brought to a shuddering halt by Boreham Wood.

WESTON-S-MARE 2

BOREHAM WOOD 4

WESTON can have no complaints as their four-game Blue Square South winning run was brought to a shuddering halt by Boreham Wood who reclaimed second spot in the table.

This was Weston’s biggest defeat of the season, and sees them slip to 10th spot in the table.

The visitors attacked from the off and forced the first of 12 corners on three minutes as they pinned Weston in their own half. The Wood defence looked vulnerable, however, on nine minutes when Weston’s man of the match Ross Stern made a strong run on the left, but Nat Pepperell, wide on the right, turned the low cross into the side netting.

From Wood’s second corner, striker Cliff Akurang blazed over the home crossbar from a couple of yards and minutes later, they forced two successive corners.

Weston broke the deadlock much against the run of play on 22 minutes when Chas Hemmings tried a speculative lob from 30 yards which sailed over the head of keeper James Russell.

In more Wood pressure, they forced two more corners, Akurang was just wide with a header and when Omer Riza burst through on 33 minutes, he fired just wide with only Lloyd Irish to beat.

In another strong run down the left on 40 minutes, Stearn was brought down by Ben Nunn as he cut inside and Stearn picked himself up to put Weston further in front from the penalty spot.

Wood were a little lucky to pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time when Weston skipper Ben Kirk, under no pressure, headed Graeme Montgomery’s cross into his own net.

Early in the second half, in end-to-end play, Ashley Kington went close for Weston and at the other end, Maud Vilhetec was just over for Wood. Irish brought off a stunning full-length leaping save to deny Akurang on 64 minutes, and a minute later at the other end, Martin Slocombe burst through from midfield but his point-blank shot was turned behind by Russell for Weston’s only corner of the game.

The home goal had a let-off on 71 minutes when Vilhetec blazed across goal after stranding Irish, but Wood drew level a minute later when Callum Reynolds scored from Montgomery’s free kick. A minute later, substitute Greg Morgan gave Wood the lead for the first time, when he left Irish standing with a 35-yard effort.

After forcing two more corners, Wood added to Weston’s woes on 90 minutes when substitute Inih Effiong hit the crossbar and Akkurang was rewarded for his efforts with a simple tap-in from the rebound.

WESTON STATS

Goals: Weston, Hemmings (22), Stearn (40, penalty). Boreham Wood, Kirk (og 45), Reynolds (72), Morgan (73), Akurang (90).

Shots on target: Weston 4, Boreham Wood 7.

Shots off target: Weston 6, Boreham Wood 6.

Corners: Weston 1, Boreham Wood 12.

Offsides: Weston 3, Boreham Wood 2.

Free kicks conceded: Weston 14, Boreham Wood 9.

Referee: Nigel Lugg (Coulsden, Surrey). Excellent game, hardly noticed.

Bookings: Weston, Monks, Trowbridge, Pepperell.

Attendance: 241.

Weston squad: Irish, Slocombe, Monks (Price 51), Diallo, Villis, Kington, Stearn, Kirk, Hemmings, Trowbridge (Parry 53), Pepperell. Subs (not used): Laird, Grubb, McClaggon.

ON Saturday, Weston pay a first-ever visit to newly promoted from the Ryman League, Billlericay Town, with the team coach leaving the Woodspring Stadium at 9am.

On Tuesday evening, Weston entertain Frome Town in the second round of the Somerset Premier Cup. This game kicks-off at 7.45pm and will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties if necessary.

Back in September, Weston knocked Frome out of the FA Cup 2-0 at Badgers Hill, with goals by Kane Ingram and Ross Stearn.