On a trip to the capital, a 69th-minute penalty from Scott Laird saw the Seagulls come away from Hanwell Town with a 1-0 victory.
Elis Watts had the game’s first attempt when getting the ball on the right wing, his effort from outside the area being held by Matt Merrick. The No.11 then had another chance from a similar position, his shot toward the near post this time being held low down by the home stopper. Dwayne Duncan had the first chance for the hosts when a Harry Rush free-kick found him in the centre, but he headed over the bar.
Matt Mackenzie had an opportunity for the home side when a long throw-in was headed clear straight to the midfielder, but his touch and 25-yard effort struck the sidenetting of Luke Purnell’s goal. Dayle Grubb had a chance when he played a superb triangle with Laird and James Dodd from a Weston throw-in, getting the ball onto his right foot and seeing a curling shot toward the top corner tipped round by the stretching Merrick. Dodd came close when heading a Grubb free-kick wide of the target at the near post, but Keiran Thomas had a low 25-yard shot gathered by Merrick in his first league start for five months.
In the second half, Marlon Jackson poked Watts in behind who drove into the box but his shot across goal on the right foot trickled just beyond the far post. The speedy Kain Adom got the better of Jason Pope when driving into the box, but Weston’s defender recovered in time to hurry the striker into a low shot that Purnell could gather. Purnell was then called into action again to make a brilliant stop from a long-range Mackenzie strike at goal, then being able to claim the ball not long after.
Weston then had another chance down the opposite end when Olly Mehew played a pass into Jackson inside the box, but his attempted dink was bloced by the body of Merrick and Hanwell could clear.
The visitors were to get the decisive winner however when substitute Jordan Bastin looked to find his way into the box. With his back to goal just inside the area, Isaac Olorunfemi hurridley clipped the heels of the winger and sent him to the ground, the referee pointing to the spot. For the first time in over two years, Laird donned the honours from the spot, confidently sending Merrick the wrong way by rolling his penalty home for a 10th goal of the season.
With Hanwell throwing everything that they could at the visitors for the final 20 minutes plus added-on time, Weston were able to see out the win and take all three points in an even game.
FT: Hanwell 0-1 Weston (Laird pen 69)
Attendance: 317.
Weston XI: Purnell, Thomas, Laird, Jagger Cane, Pope, Avery, Mehew (Coppin 82), Dodd, Jackson, Grubb (C) (Humphries 73), Watts (Bastin 61). Unused substitutes: Murray, Reid.
MOTM: Luke Purnell.