A 2-3 win for Weston away to Ashton & Backwell kicked off the Seagulls’ pre-season campaign thanks to goals from Nick McCootie, Jake Mawford and Owen Howe.
A Jake Mawford cross was narrowly turned behind for a corner by one of the Ashton & Backwell defenders early on, before Scott Laird dragged his shot wide from range as he took aim.
Jarrad Welch almost got a toe to a Nick McCootie cross from the left at the near post, however the home defender was across and covering well to clear for a corner.
Image: Will. T. Photography
Weston took the lead midway through the half when a defender miscued his clearance and the ball fell straight to Howe. His ball across the area was perfectly weighted for McCootie, who slotted in from six yards to break the deadlock.
Weston doubled their lead when Jay Malshanskyj took aim from the edge of the area, and his powerful drive was parried by the A&B keeper however landed straight at the feet of Mawford, who tapped in from a few yards out.
Laird came close to scoring when his curling free-kick from the edge of the area clipped the crossbar and flew over for a goal-kick not long before the interval.
In the second half, Ashton & Backwell pulled a goal back from a free-kick when the ball was knocked back across for the forward to turn in past Liam Kingston from close range.
Weston went two goals in front again when the lively substitute Ryan Jones sped away down the wing, and was fouled as he strode into the area. Howe stepped up to the spot, and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way for his first goal in a Weston shirt.
Malshanskyj again went close when a Mawford cross to Tom Llewellyn at the back post was played back across to the former FGR forward, but he sliced his shot wide from close range.
Image: Will. T. Photography
Ashton & Backwell got one back when latest signing Charlie Madden’s backpass to Kingston rolled past the keeper and into the net.
However, Weston saw the game out on a warm afternoon to start their pre-season with a win.
FT: Ashton & Backwell 2 – 3 Weston (No.11 55, Madden OG 86 – McCootie 22, Mawford 33, Howe 73 pen)
Weston XI: Kingston, J Byrne (Goodall HT), A Byrne (J Byrne 83), Hendy, Madden, Laird, Mawford (Llewellyn HT), Welch, Howe (Mawford 73), Pearce (Malshanskyj 30), McCootie (C) (Jones 64). Unused sub: McGreavy (GK).
MOTM: Nick McCootie