A complete performance aided by early goals from Dayle Grubb and Scott Laird saw Weston complete a league double over Poole Town with a 2-0 win.
Weston were to take the lead early on when excellent pressing by Reuben Reid and Jacob Jagger-Cane forced Poole keeper Will Butler into a mistake, his pass into midfield gifting Marlon Jackson with the ball 25 yards from goal. The striker intercepted the pass and drove towards goal, being brought down by Butler as he rounded the keeper. The referee pointed to the spot, and skipper Grubb stepped up to the plate with an excellent penalty into the top corner for his 14th league goal of the season.
Marcus Daws had a 20-yard free-kick deflect behind for a corner off the Weston wall, before Grubb’s shot from 20 yards after a one-two with Jackson was held low down by Butler. Jagger-Cane headed Jason Pope’s cross over the bar less than 60 seconds later.
Will Spetch then volleyed wide at the back post for the Dolphins after pinball inside the area from a visiting corner.
Weston were to double the advantage when a headed backpass to Butler went over the line for a corner. Grubb stepped up to deliver the ball in, and his set-piece was inch-perfect for Laird’s run toward the front post where he could glance a header in past the outstretched hand of Butler.
Lloyd Humphries fired wide from 30 yards after advancing over the halfway line, before Butler scrambled across his line to hold a loose ball after it had been touched toward goal from Jordan Bastin’s cross. Tony Lee then curled over the bar from 18 yards following Jack Dickson’s lay-off. Grubb had the last attempt of the half from 25 yards, his free-kick curling wide.
Daws fired over for Poole from 20 yards inside the first 60 seconds of the second half, before Reid had a low effort held by Butler from inside the area. Lee fired over from 18 yards once again, before substitute Harry Hutchinson had an effort from a corner clear the bar as the visitors searched for another goal.
Max Harris was forced into an excellent save from a Lee free-kick, pushing away the No.9’s 25-yard free-kick. The striker’s next effort wasn’t so handsome though, as he fired over the bar from inside the area with Poole continuing to come forward.
Substitute Noah Coppin fired wide of the target from the edge of the box after taking aim, and Grubb curled narrowly wide from a similar position as Weston saw the game out.
FT: Weston 2-0 Poole (Grubb pen 7, Laird 25)
Attendance: 871.
Weston XI: Harris, Pope, Laird, Jagger-Cane, Humphries, Avery, Dodd, Jackson (Coppin 84), Grubb (C), Bastin (Moulden 72), Reid. Unused substitutes: Murray, Watts, Purnell.
MOTM: Scott Laird.