Weston returned to winning ways after Tuesday night’s loss to Chesham United, by beating Hanwell Town by three goals to nil at the Optima Stadium.
That loss in midweek had been The Seagulls’ first defeat in the league here in BS24 for one year and two days.
Weston’s desire to get back on track was evident from the first whistle as The Geordies struggled to cope with the home side’s movement on and off the ball.
A brilliant diagonal pass from Lloyd Humphries found Scott Laird in the area but he was ruled offside.
Jordan Bastin was having plenty of joy down the right flank, and earned a corner after tenacious midfield play from Jacob Jagger Cane and James Dodd had set him up, but the resulting corner amounted to nothing.
The hosts then raced into an early lead as Dayle Grubb fed Bastin and, after getting in behind the Hanwell back-line, he calmly slotted past Hugo Sobte to open the scoring.
The lead was then doubled before half-time, as a wayward backpass was intercepted by Bastin, who then rounded Sobte and fired into the empty net with a calm right-footed finish. Weston were in complete control to calm any nerves that they might have had before the game.
In the second half, Hanwell had more of the ball but were unable to fashion any clear-cut chances, and it was Weston who were looking the more likely side to grab the game’s third goal.
Jason Pope was getting forward well on his return to the Weston side. Pope, playing at right-back in his first appearance since August 6, created a great opening for Reuben Reid at the start of the second period, but his shot was well saved. Pope showed no signs of rustiness during the game, defending well and was a good attacking threat throughout.
Luke Purnell, deputising for Max Harris, was forced into action soon after as he had to deal with a powerful shot on target from a Hanwell forward. The ball was travelling at great pace but the experienced shot stopper did well to hold on to the ball.
Back at the other end, substitute Jay Murray had a low cross turned away for another corner. From that, Reid’s downward header went just wide.
Hanwell enjoyed far more possession in the second 45, and they missed a golden chance to reduce the arrears with time running out. Purnell made an incredible save to deny Shomari Barnwell from point-blank range after substitute George Nicholas’ shot was cleared off the line by a Weston defender.
The Geordies were then made to pay as, in Weston’s next attack, The Seagulls made sure of all three points. Grubb created space for himself and fired in a low shot that Sobte turned away, but Murray was on hand to fire in the rebound with a low and composed finish to seal all three points for the home side, who dominated the game with an assured display. Murray’s goal was Weston’s 50th of the season, an incredible achievement considering we are still in October!
MAN OF THE MATCH: Jordan Bastin. A confident performance from the winger, who will be delighted with his early brace.
Weston: Purnell, Pope, Laird, Jagger-Cane, Humphries, Avery, Dodd, Jackson (Murray 36), Grubb ©, Bastin (Tunnicliff 65), Reid (Watts 89). Unused subs: Jones, Griffith.