An Olly Mehew brace as well as a Marlon Jackson tap-in saw a dominant Weston defeat Dorchester Town 3-1.
Luke Purnell was the first keeper called into action when Jordan Ngalo’s low free-kick from an angle was beaten away by the Seagulls shot-stopper at the near post.
The Seagulls were to take the lead less than 60 seconds later through some excellent play between the front two. Mehew brought a pass down and played a one-two with Jackson, the return pass perfect for the No.7 who took the ball in his stride and slotted beyond Ryan Hall on his left foot from just inside the box.
Dayle Grubb curled just wide of the near post after playing a one-two with Watts, before Jackson had a shot from the edge of the area deflect behind off of visiting skipper Callum Buckley. Scott Laird then glanced a header over at the front post from Grubb’s corner.
Grubb had a shot beaten away centrally by Hall after receiving a pass from Jacob Jagger Cane, before Dodd had a shot deflect behind from the edge of the area. From Watts’ corner, Grubb retrieved the ball on the far side after it had been initally cleared, cut inside and saw his low curling effort bounce off the base of the post before Jackson’s rebound cross narrowly evaded the diving head of Sam Avery.
Watts poked a shot straight at Hall after playing a one-two with Grubb, before the winger drove over from inside the area after cutting inside.
A second for the Seagulls was to follow through some excellent craftsmanship going forward again. Watts played a reverse pass in behind the full-back for Jay Murray, whose low cross found Jackson six yards out and he had the simple task of slotting into an empty net to double the hosts’ advantage.
Watts came close at the front post, meeting Mehew’s low cross but a Dorchester defender smuggled the ball behind. Mehew had another effort when cutting inside from the left after keeping the ball in play, but his resulting effort was straight at Hall. Watts saw a toe-poke from inside the area trickle past the far post after beating three away defenders, before Laird drove over from 25 yards after picking up a loose ball.
Straight from the second-half kickoff, Laird drove through the heart of the visiting midfield and fired just past the post from 25 yards.
The visitors were to pull a goal back when from a period of Dorchester pressure, Ngalo’s shot was spilt by Purnell and in the ensuing melee, Harvey Bradbury scrambled in amongst the crowd of players from a yard out.
Weston went back on the attack looking to restore their two-goal advantage, and came close when Mehew pulled a pass back for Watts, who scuffed his shot slightly and Jackson diverted wide from six yards as he was unable to sort his feet out in time. Sam Avery came close when a combination of Grubb, Jackson and Mehew worked the ball into the centre-back on the left side of the area, and after sitting down one defender, his shot was straight at Hall. Jackson came close again when Watts found him racing into the area, but the No.9’s low shot wasn’t hit with the cleanest conviction and rolled wide of the near post.
Mehew was to bag his second goal of the game 18 minutes from time however when Laird’s drive from 25 yards was pushed away by Hall, but the ball fell straight to the No.7’s feet and he fired in the rebound to restore the two-goal lead.
Grubb had a shot from 18 yards held at Hall’s near post after Laird’s pull-back, before Hall tipped round the post superbly to deny Jackson after Mehew and Dodd had worked the ball into the striker inside the box.
FT: Weston 3-1 Dorchester (Mehew 8, 72, Jackson 28 – Bradbury 51)
Attendance: 826.
Weston XI: Purnell, Murray, Laird, Jagger Cane, Pope, Avery, Mehew (Thomas 85), Dodd, Jackson (Coppin 85), Grubb (C), Watts (Bastin 61). Unused substitute: Williams.
MOTM: Olly Mehew.