A goal each from Lloyd Humphries and James Waite helped Weston to a 2-1 victory over Hartley Wintney, with the Seagulls also hitting the woodwork four times.
Weston enjoyed a quick start when Jacob Cane picked up a loose ball and fed Scott Laird, whose effort from inside the area was tipped around the post by visiting keeper Tom Williams. From the corner, Mike Symons flicked Waite’s corner just wide from six yards out before Tyron Smith curled a 25-yard free-kick wide for Hartley Wintney.
Williams got down low to hold an attempt from Brad Ash after he had brought down a long Luke Purnell clearance, before Ash had another attempt strike the inside of the post and roll into the arms of Williams after Symons had delivered a low cross into the area. Next, it was Symons’ chance to hit the post when he brought down a Scott Laird cross, but his effort smacked the woodwork and rolled away.
Ash saw another attempt from a tight angle go just wide of the target as he had a volley whistle narrowly wide of the post.
Weston made their early pressure count though when a short corner from Waite found Humphries on the edge of the area. The Welshman took one touch before crashing a shot past Williams and rippling the back of the net for 1-0.
The chances weren’t done there for Weston, as Greg Tindle volleyed over from six yards when a Waite corner landed on his foot.
After the interval, it didn’t take long for Hartley Wintney to equalise when Reece Wylie broke down the left and his low cross found Adam Cornell a few yards out, who kindly obliged to slot in for the leveller.
The Seagulls soon retook the lead however when left-back Dan Martin intercepted a pass 30 yards out and fed Ash into the box. Reaching the byline, the striker’s deflected cross sat up kindly for Waite a few yards out and he prodded the ball over the line to restore the lead.
Humphries drove down the left and his deflected cross fell to the loanee at the near post, but his looping header hit the top of the crossbar and bounced over.
Ash glanced a header wide from Waite’s corner, before the trio of Symons, Knowles and Tindle all came inches to one of them making the game safe, but all three were unable to connect with Laird’s free-kick in front of goal.
Ash’s sliding tackle 25 yards out and subsequent shot was deflected into the arms of Williams, with the hosts holding out for a valuable three points that moves them up into seventh.
FT: Weston 2-1 Hartley Wintney (Humphries 35, Waite 52 – Cornell 49)
Weston XI: Purnell, Parsons, Martin, Humphries (Hendy 75), Knowles, Tindle (C), Laird, Cane, Symons (McCootie 90+1), Ash, Waite (Pearce 84). Unused substitutes: Madden, Goodall.