A late Dayle Grubb penalty wasn’t enough for Weston as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Cheltenham Town.
Tom King was the first player from either side to get an opportunity when he failed to convert a low Dan Adshead cross at the back post, the ensuing scramble forcing a corner for the Robins. From the set-piece delivery, Adshead picked out Curtis Davies at the front post, who glanced home beyond debutant Harry Lee.
Lee was called into action for the first time when managing to smother a King one-on-one after being slipped in behind by Freddy Wilcox, before James Dodd blocked a powerful Ellis Chapman effort.
The Robins were to double their advantage when Liam Smith got the other side of Bailey Kempster inside the area and was brought down by the young left-back. Rob Street stepped up to the plate and calmly rolled his penalty into the bottom corner, sending Lee the wrong way, for 2-0.
Marlon Jackson had Weston’s most clear-cut opening in the first period when Jason Pope turned in midfield and slipped through the No.9, whose low effort from inside the box was gathered by Max Harris.
Pope fired over the bar from inside the area minutes into the second half after bringing down a long ball in behind, before Jordan Bastin fired over the bar from a similar position after a Keiran Thomas cross had only been partially cleared in his direction. Dodd then had an attempt from 25 yards blocked by a Cheltenham defender.
Grubb curled an attempt from 25 yards into Jamie Pardington’s waiting arms after playing a one-two with Pope in midfield, before substitute Jay Murray’s diving header was wide of the target from Kempster’s cross. Robins substitute Will Ferry had a chance when cutting into the box on his right foot, but he blazed wide of the target.
Cheltenham substitute George Lloyd turned 25 yards out and dragged an effort wide of the goal on his left foot, before a swerving drive from Elliot Bonds was wide of the target from outside the area. Pardington was then called into action again when Murray twisted and turned on the edge of the area from a counter, but his low effort was held by the substitute. Lee was also alert to block a powerful Lloyd one-on-one with his body after being fed through.
Weston were to grab a goal moments before the end when Humphries’ through ball was latched upon by substitute Oscar Collins, who was brougth down inside the area by Pardington as he took the ball around the keeper. Grubb stepped up, and with the game’s final shot, he sent the Cheltenham No.21 the wrong way as he nestled the ball in the opposite corner.
FT: Weston 1-2 Cheltenham (Grub pen 89 – Davies 7, Street pen 25)
Attendance: 684.
Weston XI: Lee, Thomas (Taylor 57), Kempster, Pope, Humphries, Avery (Watts 65), Mannings (Edwards 65), Dodd (Maspero 78), Jackson (Collins 78), Grubb (C), Bastin (Murray 57). Unused substitutes: Soule, Sheridan.
MOTM: Lloyd Humphries.