A Reuben Reid hat-trick as well as a Marlon Jackson brace and goals from Jordan Bastin & Elis Watts saw the Seagulls defeat Helston Athletic 7-2.
Jackson came close inside the opening minutes as he slid to meet a low Jay Murray cross, but the delivery just evaded him. Bastin then volleyed over the bar after Cory Harvey had spilt a Dayle Grubb delivery to the winger.
The opening goal was to come from Reid when Bastin was fed down the right, and his pull-back to Reid saw the No.19 take a touch before firing into the corner past Harvey.
The second came eight minutes later in similar fashion when Grubb was found down the right-hand side. He looked up and pulled the ball back for Jackson 12 yards out, who fired a shot beyond Harvey first-time for 2-0.
Jackson fired a shot past the post from 25 yards after he turned from a Jacob Jagger-Cane pass, with Grubb then having a low shot from Bastin’s corner blocked by an outstretched Helston foot on the line. The Seagulls skipper then had a low curling shot held by Harvey as Weston looked to ramp up the pressure on their visitors.
The third was to follow with a stunner from right midfielder Bastin, who collected a loose ball on the edge of the Helston area following Jackson and Grubb’s failed 1-2 attempt. The winger then curled a brilliant shot into the far left corner for his first goal in front of the home crowd.
Reid was to get his second seven minutes before the break when Humphries’ sliding challenge on the halfway line saw Weston win back possession. Dodd played an excellent first-time pass through for the racing Reid, who tore away from the defence. Approaching Harvey, the striker rounded him and calmly slotted into an empty net for 4-0.
Grubb had the final attempt of the half when he stood over a 25-yard free-kick following Bentley’s foul on Reid, but the captain curled his effort straight into the arms of Harvey.
The first chance of the second period fell for Helston, and the visitos made it count. Sam Avery headed a corner away to the edge of the area, where Tom Payne collected, turned Murray and curled an unstoppable shot into the far top corner.
Jackson looked for his second of the afternoon when he played a one-two with Reid on the edge of the box, but his left-footed strike was straight at Harvey. Grubb then curled a 30-yard free-kick past the post after he had been brought down.
Half-time substitute Watts was to get on the scoresheet just past the hour mark when Reid beat his man down the left and pulled a pass back to Will Tunnicliff inside the area. The left-back scuffed his shot, and Watts was on hand to slot in from a few yards out for 5-1.
Reid was to get his first hat-trick for the club when a pass into the box found Jackson, who was brought down by a sliding Helston defender. Reid stepped up to the spot, and confidently sent Harvey the wrong way with an excellent spot-kick.
Weston were to get a seventh when Tunnicliff’s low cross was cleared to Jackson 12 yards out, and the striker took a touch before firing a low effort past Harvey for his second of the game.
Helston were to get another consolation goal when Jordan Copp’s free-kick delivery was bundled in by Rubin Wilson at the near post.
Murray had the final chance of the game inside added-on time when his strike from 30 yards took a deflection and was gathered by Harvey,
FT: Weston 7-2 Helston (Reid 11,38,pen 66, Jackson 19,73, Bastin 32, Watts 61 – Payne 48, Wilson 76)
Weston XI: Harris, Tunnicliff, Jagger-Cane, Humphries, Avery, Murray, Dodd, Jackson, Grubb (C) (Moulden 75), Bastin (Watts HT), Reid (Griffith 70). Unused substitutes: Purnell, Jones, Bak.
MOTM: Reuben Reid.