A youthful-looking Seagulls side progressed past Western League side Welton Rovers 1-0 away from home to reach the Somerset Cup Quarter-Finals.
Jake Bird had the game’s first attempt for the hosts, his shot toward Luke Purnell’s near post being held by the night’s stand-in skipper. Purnell was then made to hold a Joe Ellis header following a Welton corner, before academy player Oscar Collins fired over with his first shot on a bright first-team debut from 25 yards following Dan Maspero’s cleared free-kick.
Owen Punselie fired over the bar from 25 yards after being given space to get a shot off, while down the other end Ben Griffith had a one-on-one saved by the foot of Welton keeper Chris Blammon following a smart Maspero flick round the corner. Elis Watts then had an opportunity from a short free-kick, but his low attempt toward the near post was gathered by Blammon.
The Seagulls were to get the game’s only goal through a great run down the wing by Maspero, beating two players as he drove into the box before pulling the ball back for Alfie Moulden 12 yards out. The winger took a touch and the smashed his attempt into the roof of the net past Blammon for his 3rd goal of the season and his 2nd in this competition.
In the final chance of the half, Will Gould fired over from 25 yards.
In the second period, Jay Murray had a 20-yard free-kick pushed away by Blammon at his near post, before Punselie headed over the bar from six yards following substitute Joe Dali-Kemmery’s cross.
The young Seagulls were reduced to ten men 17 minutes from time when Griffith was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident involving one of the Welton defenders.
With the young charges’ backs against the walls for the final 15 minutes, being marshalled by the experienced Purnell in goal, Dali-Kemmery had an equaliser ruled out for a shove in the back of a Weston man when rising to head in a cross, before home skipper Lewis Russell drove over the bar in frustration from 25 yards during added-on time.
FT: Welton Rovers 0-1 Weston (Moulden 33)
Weston XI: Purnell (C), Murray (Iestyn Owen 62), Fenton King, Oscar Collins, Pope (Louis Singfield HT), Harry Pegler, Callum Black, Dan Maspero, Griffith (S/O 73), Moulden, Watts (Callum Dean 85). Unused substitutes: Laird, Jacob Sheridan.
MOTM: Dan Maspero.