WESTON’S POOR RUN CONTINUES
Weston’s disappointing start to the National League South campaign continued on Saturday afternoon, going down to a 2-4 defeat to Hemel Hempstead Town at the Woodspring Stadium.
The Seagulls improved on recent showings, but were once again lamenting a dismal start to the game, amassing a two-goal deficit before 5 minutes had been played.
Ryan Northmore’s side battled hard, and created openings to get back in the game, but some sensational finishing saw Hemel put the game out of sight.
The Tudors opened the scoring through skipper James Potton, who swerved a shot into the top corner past a helpless Luke Purnell with two minutes played.
It took only a matter of moments for Hemel to double their lead through lanky centre-forward Oliver Hawkins, who tapped in Jamal Lowe’s cross from just a yard out after Ollie Barnes was disposed 20 yards from goal, giving Weston a mountain to climb.
The Seagulls almost mustered an immediate response, but Tristan Plummer’s 12-yard effort was well saved by Jamie Butler in the Hemel goal.
After the break, Weston continued to press forward, and missed a clear chance to narrow the margin on 58 minutes when an unmarked Jacob Cane headed wide when 10 yards out from Ben Withey’s cross.
Weston were immediately punished when Jamie Edge lost out to Matt Spring 40 yards from goal. The well-travelled-midfielder advanced forwards before unleashing a fierce strike that went in off the far post with Purnell helpless once again.
The Seagulls swiftly responded through Clayton Fortune’s deflected long range effort on 64 minutes, but any thoughts of a comeback were quickly quashed when Spring once again scored sensationally from range to make it 1-4 with 20 minutes to play.
There was time for Weston to register another notch on the scoresheet through Man of the Match Ben Withey, who delightfully lifted the ball over Butler after a smart exchange with Jake Mawford, but the Seagulls once again gave themselves too much to do, consigning themselves to a third consecutive league defeat.
Final Score: Weston-super-Mare 2-4 Hemel Hempstead Town
Weston Starting XI: Purnell, Withey, Barnes, Keary, Edge (Ingram), Fortune, Cane (Byrne), Mawford, Wilson (McClennan), Grubb (c), Plummer.
Substitutes: (Not used) Llewellyn, Ash.