Weston lost to Slimbridge 2-1 in a competitive encounter to end their away games for the 2022 pre-season.
Jack Holmes and Marlon Jackson were both unable to get on the end of a low Jordan Bastin cross after he had been played in behind by Reuben Reid, before a low Holmes shot was held after he had turned 18 yards out from a Bastin throw. Captain Keiran Thomas then rose to meet a Bastin cross in the centre, but his looping header was held by Dan Troke.
Luke Purnell comfortably gathered a 25-yard Will Hawes free-kick after it had taken a nick off of the wall, before a Jason Pope pass made it’s way through to Reid, yet the striker’s shot across goal bounced off the post and away as he still searches for his first Weston goal. A 30-yard shot on the half-volley by Dylan Lewis was narrowly wide of the target as well down the other end.
James Dodd’s pass was dummied by Jackson for Bastin who collected the ball 18 yards out, yet his shot was straight into the midriff of Troke. A minute later, Scott Laird went close when his free-kick toward the bottom corner was pushed round the post by Troke. Hawes came closest for Slimbridge when a ball in by Marley Thomas found him free at the back post, but he volleyed wide when it looked easier to score.
A minute after that chance, Slimbridge took a surprise lead when Laird’s backpass to Purnell unfortunately rolled away from the keeper as he went to control, the ball rolling across the line and into the back of the net for 1-0.
Weston almost got back on level terms immediately after when Dodd’s pass was flicked on by Jackson to Bastin who raced in behind and poked the ball home, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
The Swans doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half when Thomas’ corner found the rising Jacob Geddes six yards out, and his downward header bounced past Max Harris and over the line despite Jacob Jagger-Cane’s best attempts to keep it out.
Weston were soon to get on the scoresheet though when Reid poked the ball across the box in search of a pink shirt. The ball found Bastin inside the area, who worked a yard of space to get away from his man and fire a low effort through the legs of Troke to pull one back.
The Seagulls were to keep on going throughout the game, Ben Griffith and Elis Watts both going close from inside the area, yet they were unable to pull level.
FT: Slimbridge 2-1 Weston (Purnell OG 40, Geddes 48 – Bastin 55)
Attendance: 145
Weston XI: Purnell (Harris HT), Thomas (C) (Murray HT), Laird (Moulden 71), Dodd, Pope, Humphries, Jagger-Cane, Jackson (Griffith 61), Holmes (Watts HT), Bastin (Kempster 71), Reid (Grubb 75).
MOTM: Lloyd Humphries.