Despite the sun shining on the Woodspring Stadium, it was East Thurrock basking in glory come full time as Weston were beaten 1-3 in a game influenced heavily by the blustery conditions.
The first half was devoid of much quality from either team, over-exuberant play from East Thurrock led to a plethora of fouls in the middle third of the pitch. The first real chance came within the first 4 minutes; a neat interchange of passing between Lloyd Humphries and Dayle Grubb in the away team’s box led to a low driven shot, parried around the post by the East Thurrock goalkeeper. The resulting corner led to confusion amongst the defending side and it was only a goal-line clearance at the far post that prevented Weston from going 1-0 up. New signing Theo Warton made his debut on the 44th minute, replacing Jacob Cane after the diminutive midfielder pulled up, having to be substituted off.
The match recommenced after the break a in a similar vein, neither midfield were able to properly assert control of the game due to the blustery wind. In the 62nd minute Jake Reid replaced Jake Lee, followed six minutes later by Tommy Anderson coming on for Lloyd Humphries. 72 minutes on the clock, the ball was lost in midfield and as Aden Baldwin tracked across to cover he slipped, allowing Femi Akinwande to race in on goal and tuck the ball away past the onrushing Luke Purnell. Weston almost immediately replied from a free kick. Taken from a deep position the ball was tapped in at the far post by captain Ash Kington, however the referee disallowed it following the assistant referee raising his flag for offside. Despite a lot of huffing and puffing the Seagulls were unable to negotiate a way through the stubborn East Thurrock defence.
The Rocks doubled their lead on 87, Reece Harris glanced a header that nestled in the bottom corner from a wide free kick. The final goal for the visitors came when Femi Akinwande drove forward towards the box and fired an arrowed shot to Purnells left and beyond his reach in the 90th minute, heaping further misery on a disheartened Weston side. Directly from kick off, Danny Greenslade found space on the left wing and swung an inch-perfect cross into the box for Brad Ash to nod home, giving the Seagulls a consolation in the 91nd minute.
The game finished at 1-3 to East Thurrock, the weather conditions didn’t help as it consistently interrupted Weston’s flow however the visitors were good value for their win. The Seagulls’ next match is on Tuesday night in the semi-final of the Somerset Premier Cup, with their next league game being away to Gosport Borough on the Sat 1st of April.
FT: Weston 1-3 East Thurrock.
Attendance: 433.
MOTM: Danny Greenslade.
Weston XI: Purnell, Pope, Baldwin, Barker, Greenslade, Humphries (Anderson 68), Kington, Cane (Warton 44), Grubb, Ash, Lee (Reid 62).