Match Report by Rob Hammett.

In Weston’s first away game of the 2024/25 Vanarama National League South campaign, The Seagulls were defeated by a goal to nil at Enfield Town. 

Weston made two changes from last Saturday’s game with Worthing, as Dylan Kadji replaced Jacob Jagger Cane, and new loan signing Brandon Bak was given a place on the bench upon his Seagulls return.

Weston started the game well and enjoyed most of the possession and were the first of the two sides to have a shot on target. Good work in the midfield from James Dodd and James Waite saw the ball played to Reuben Reid, but his effort was pushed around the post by home goalkeeper Rhys Forster.

Emlyn Lewis was the next Seagulls player close to breaking the deadlock at a sunkissed Dave Bryant Stadium, but his header was cleared off the line by a Town defender following Luke Coulson’s corner..

Forster was kept busy during the opening stages as he also denied Kadji. Morgan Lewis crossed from the left and his pinpoint delivery was met by Kadji but his volley was claimed by Forster.

Weston’s good spell continued as Reid’s shot from around 25 yards was again dealt with by a full-stretch Forster, before the goalkeeper racked up another save after Waite’s stinging shot on target from just inside the area after another good move.

Eventually, Enfield were able to get themselves forward, and after missing a glorious chance when it seemed easier to score, The Towners took the lead from the penalty spot. Ollie Knight was fouled in the area by Emlyn Lewis and up stepped Sam Youngs who emphatically dispatched the penalty past Will Buse into the top of the net.

HALF-TIME: Enfield Town 1 -0  Weston-super-Mare AFC

Weston came out for the second-half and another teasing Morgan Lewis delivery was eventually dealt with by the home goalkeeper, before Billy Leonard probably should have done better at the other end but he shot over the bar. The Seagulls then had another half-chance when Keiran Thomas’ well-executed overhead kick was gathered by Forster.

Reid had another shot turned away by Forster, and Weston’s nemesis was again called into action as he tipped over Kadji’s shot from the edge of the area after more good work from Morgan Lewis.

Substitute Bailey Kempster sent in a wicked cross that was glanced just wide by the head of Dodd, before Buse spread himself excellently to deny Michael Folivi as he found himself in space on the edge of the area, the on-loan Yeovil Town keeper doing well to come out and deny Enfield a second goal.

Forster made another stop to deny Coulson, before Ollie Chamberlain volleyed over in Weston’s last attack.

A defeat for Weston on their first awayday of the season, who will now look for a more positive result when they visit another newly-promoted club, Chesham United, on Tuesday night.

FULL-TIME: Enfield Town 1- 0 Weston-super-Mare AFC (Youngs pen 39’)

Weston XI: Buse, Thomas, M. Lewis (Bastin 77’), Pope, E. Lewis, Kadji (Kempster 77’), Dodd, Chamberlain, Coulson, Waite (McCootie 77’), Reid (Bak 77’)

Unused sub: Absalom

Attendance: 796

Man of the Match: Luke Coulson. Another hard-working performance from the former Dartford man, who had a say in most of Weston’s best play going forward.