Weston continued from where they left off following Monday’s win at Maidstone producing an excellent first half performance that saw the hosts plunder goals that had the visitors on the ropes inside fourteen minutes of this captivating match.

Surviving early onslaughts into their territory from an outstanding Liam Nash from the visitors whose all-round performance won many plaudits among the Optima Stadium attendance, the hosts went in front from their first real attack on five minutes, debutant Dylan Morgan – signed om loan from Somerset neighbours Yeovil Town just twenty-four hours earlier – thudded home from sixteen yards after brilliant work from Ollie Chamberlain had opened up the Hornchurch defence

Nash was always a danger for the Essex side, and his well hit shot went wide of Will Buse’s left-hand post when the diminutive midfielder found himself in a goal worthy position on ten minutes.

Weston were to add a second strike on fourteen minutes, the goal accredited as an own goal by Hornchurch custodian Mason Terry as he manfully attempted to stop the ball crossing the line, after the ball bobbed and weaved inside the six yard area after Emlyn Lewis’s headed effort had rebounded off a visitors’ defender. Referee Martyn Mitchell appeared partially unsighted but looking towards his assistant, it was an early eyed assistant referee, Jack Bromham, who indicated that the ball had crossed the line, and the goal was rightly given.

Brandon Bak, impressively creating space on the right flank almost added a third on eighteen minutes but the tenacious Weston graduate was closed down by goalkeeper Terry forcing the Bristol City loanee’s shot to ricochet over the crossbar.

Hornchurch danger man Liam Nash had the ball in the Weston net on twenty minutes, but the effort was disallowed for offside. The Essex side were no pushovers, their counter-attacking play both impressive and penetrating.

And on thirty-five minutes, Nash got his name on the scoresheet finishing well past Buse with a well hit strike.

Two minutes later however, the hosts restored their two-goal cushion, Bak’s stunning finish from Luke Coulson’s inch-perfect cross giving Terry no chance.

At times, Weston’s approach play both on and off the ball was a delight to witness but the edge was always there from the Essex side who proved their sustainability repeatedly, demonstrating their worthiness as Isthmian League champions’ last term.

Half-Time score: Weston-super-Mare AFC 3-1 Hornchurch

And Hornchurch were to go on to enjoy the lion’s share of possession in the second half, substitute Darren McQueen going agonisingly close, then that man Nash was sent clear again hitting a thirty-five-yard volley that Buse did well to hold.

On seventy-two minutes, substitute Nick McCootie had the ball in the Hornchurch net, but his effort was disallowed for an apparent foul on the goalkeeper.

Hornchurch netted a further goal through Sean Scannell to make it a nervy last ten minutes or so for the hosts, but Weston held firm with their defence brilliantly marshalled by Lewis to record their fourth successive win and their elevation to sixth place in the National League South.

An eagerly anticipated duel against unbeaten league leaders Slough Town awaits Scott Bartlett’s charges on Tuesday night as the Surrey side, 1-0 victory over Weymouth on Saturday, visit the Optima.

Full-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 3 – 2 Hornchurch (Morgan 5, Green OG 14, Bak 37; Nash 35, Scannell 72)

Weston XI: Buse, Pope (Kempster,90+5), Bastin, Kadji (Jagger Cane 82), Avery, Dodd, Morgan (McCootie 68), Coulson, E Lewis ©, Bak (Reid 68), Chamberlain.

Unused Substitute: Absalom

Attendance: 917

Man of The Match: Dylan Morgan. An excellent performance from the new loan signing, netting within the first five minutes and being a constant threat throughout.