A brace from James Waite secured the Seagulls three points in a 2-1 victory away to Yate Town, with a busy festive period approaching.
Weston had the better of the early opportunties when Waite fired over from outside the area after a pass inside by Isaac Pearce, while Brad Ash weaved through a gap in the Yate defence and fired into Adam Forster’s hands. The striker went close again when he was found by Scott Laird, but the loanee from Hereford fired over the bar from an angle.
Debutant Vincent Harper had a shot tipped wide by Forster after he had played a one-two with Waite, and Forster was again equal to Harper’s efforts when his one-one-one was pushed aside by the keeper. Luke Spokes had the first opportunity for Yate, but Luke Purnell got down quickly to push his low shot out for a corner.
Waite headed just wide after Pearce had dinked a pass into his path, before the Seagulls took the lead.
Yate attempted to launch a counter attack, however Charlie Madden intercepted quickly. He played a lovely ball over the top to Waite, who brought the ball down with one touch and drilled in from the edge of the area to break the deadlock.
Yate equalised just four minutes later though when a free-kick wasn’t dealt with by the Seagulls, and the ball dropped kindly for Malshanskyj who prodded home from close range to score against his former club.
The former Weston player then had another chance before half-time, but he fired over the bar after being played in down the left.
In the second half, Jacob Cane went close as he fired straight at Forster’s legs following Ash’s flick, and Purnell was out quickly to deny Malshanskyj, who had found himself in behind following Forster’s long kick. The winger also drove wide from 18 yards after latching on to a loose ball.
Ash failed to find a Weston man in the box after being gifted the opportunity following Harper’s storming run and ball through, while Waite smacked an effort off the crossbar moments later with the game starting to liven up again.
Cane curled wide after weaving into the box, while Yate substitute Nicholas Peare saw a dipping volley strike the base of the post from outside the area.
Weston were to get the crucial second goal for their side however when a bouncing ball found Laird in the box. His initial shot was saved by the feet of Forster, but following up was loanee Waite, who slotted into the bottom corner to spark manic celebrations from the stands.
FT: Yate 1-2 Weston (Malshanskyj 33 – Waite 29, 88)
Weston XI: Purnell, Parsons, Martin, Laird, Madden, Tindle (C), Harper, Cane, Ash, Waite (Hendy 90+4), Pearce (Knowles 71). Unused substitutes: Goodall, Jones, Eastwood.
MOTM: James Waite