A late Lloyd Humphries goal saw Weston beat their hosts Bashley FC 3-2 in a competitive encounter.
James Dodd had the game’s first chance when he glanced a Jordan Bastin corner wide at the front post, before a Bashley forward saw a 25-yard drive tipped over the bar by Harry Lee. Dodd then rolled an effort into Ross Casey’s arms from the edge of the area after side-stepping past his man following some patient buildup play.
Bashley were able to take the lead 15 minutes in when Weston managed to clear the ball away on the edge of their penalty area to Jamie Webber 25 yards out. The right-back took a touch to set himself before arrowing a low drive past the dive of Lee to give the hosts the lead.
Casey was called into action when pushing a low Bastin drive from 25 yards away from goal, before Dodd had a low shot hooked off the line after the ball fell to him from a corner. Trialist A then drove just wide of the near post from 18 yards after Reuben Reid had laid off a Keiran Thomas cross into his path. In the final action of the half, Marlon Jackson then had an effort kept out by the feet of Casey after he had been found over the top by Trialist A.
Lloyd Humphries had the second half’s first attempt, his 30-yard free-kick being tipped over by Casey. Reid had an opportunity when debutant Ed James slipped him in behind, but his one-on-one was kept out by the shoulder of Casey. Trialist A also had a shot deflected behind from the edge of the area after good buildup play down the right.
The Seagulls were to equalise when Trialist A found Bastin just inside the area. Squaring up his marker, and Jason Pope’s run down the outside allowing the No.11 to work a yard of space, the winger fired in an effort at Casey’s near post for his first goal of pre-season.
A second goal was to follow less than 120 seconds later when Bastin played a great pass through for Pope, who found himself one-on-one with Casey. Calmly rounding the home keeper, he slotted into an empty net on his weaker right foot.
Substitute Jacob Jagger Cane glanced a cross over from fellow substitute Rex Mannings, Elis Watts fired over from 25 yards and Mannings curled narrowly wide of the target from 20 yards after Watts had cut inside to find the summer signing.
Bashley were to equalise when a ball down the right found Harry McGrath in the channel. The forward cut inside along the edge of the area onto his left foot and fired a low effort into Lee’s bottom corner for 2-2.
Skipper Humphries fired a low free-kick wide from 30 yards, before Reid had a toe-poke cleared off the line when Trialist C’s cross found a way to him six yards out. Reid then had a chance when following a series of crosses, the ball dropped his way, but he was unable to beat Casey as the keeper tipped his shot away.
Weston were to get a winner in the 87th minute when a pass-back put Casey under a bit of pressure thanks to Humphries closing him down. The Welshman won the ball from the keeper six yards out, and the ball trickled over the line for a final score of 3-2.
FT: Bashley 2-3 Weston (Webber 15, McGrath 79 – Bastin 59, Pope 61, Humphries 87)
Attendance: 251.
Weston XI: Lee, Thomas (Trialist C HT), Pope, Trialist A (Avery 73), Humphries (C), James, Murray (Trialist B HT), Dodd (Jagger Cane 63), Jackson (Mannings 63), Bastin (Watts 63), Reid. Unused substitute: Purnell.
MOTM: Jordan Bastin.