A late goal from Jarrad Welch wasn’t enough for the Seagulls to grab a result against title chasers Woking.
Dave Tarpey had early appeals for a penalty turned away after contesting a header with George Nurse, before Jason Pope had a shot go narrowly wide of the post after debutant Alex Bray couldn’t get a shot away inside the box.
Image: Will. T. Photography
Woking did get an early penalty though when Paul Hodges nipped in ahead of Jake Lee, and the defensive midfielder fouled his man. Prolific goalscorer Tarpey stepped up to the chance from 12 yards, however his weak effort was saved by the feet of Purnell. The ball squirmed under Purnell’s body however, and Tarpey was quickest to react to slot in from a few yards out.
Tom Harrison blocked a shot from new Woking man Reise Allassani inside the box which went for a corner, before Nurse drove forward past two Woking men and his low shot towards the bottom corner was parried away by Craig Ross and the ball was cleared before Hill could reach the loose ball.
Jennison Myrie-Williams went close when he drove a shot towards goal from 25 yards, and Ross punched the rising drive away. Allassani had a chance down the other end when he cut inside onto his right foot, yet his curling drive was narrowly wide of the post.
After the interval, both sides struggled to create anything of note until the 68th minute when Woking substitute Jake Hyde turned on the edge of the area and his right-footed shot was held low by Purnell.
Weston came inches from equalising when Jarrad Welch’s free-kick was flicked towards goal by Jackson, and Ian Gayle cleared off the line when Ross couldn’t keep it from heading towards goal.
Image: Will. T. Photography
Woking got a second a minute later when Hodges played the ball through for Allassani, and he slotted in past Purnell to put his side two to the good.
A Nurse cross into the box towards Jackson was nodded over the bar in second-half injury time.
Weston got a consolation goal though when a Nurse cross was headed away towards Welch 18 yards out, and he volleyed into the bottom corner to set up a grandstand finish, but it wasn’t to be for the Seagulls.
FT: Woking 2 – 1 Weston (Tarpey pen 9, Allassani 75 – Welch 90+3)
Weston XI: Purnell, Pope, Nurse, Cane (C) (Byrne 48), Parsons, Harrison, Bray (Phipps 88), Lee (Welch 64), Jackson, Myrie-Williams, Hill. Unused subs: Diallo, Lucas.
MOTM: Aaron Parsons – The centre-back gave a commanding performance at the back, holding his own against two quick forwards and was dominant when challenging in the air.