Match report written by Rob Hammett
Weston made it six games unbeaten in Vanarama National League South following their 0-0 draw at St Albans City.
Ahead of the game at Clarence Park, manager Scott Bartlett made two changes to the starting line-up following Tuesday’s win over Slough Town. New loan signing Billy Kirkman made his Seagulls debut, while Brandon Bak was named in the first XI as Nick McCootie started on the substitutes’ bench.
Swindon Town loanee Kirkman was in the thick of the action almost immediately as his pass into the St Albans penalty area found Reuben Reid, but his fierce shot was well held by home goalkeeper Michael Johnson.
At the other end, Saints’ talisman Shaun Jeffers headed just wide from Josh Castiglione’s teasing cross.
Dylan Kadji’s left-footed effort was smothered by Johnson, then moments later Luke Coulson’s nicely threaded ball into the box found Bak, but again Weston were thwarted by another stop from the busy Johnson.
James Dodd then went on a jinking run with the ball seemingly glued to his feet, but his shot was just wide.
Weston felt they should have been awarded a penalty towards the end of the half. Ollie Chamberlain burst into the penalty area and his run was rudely interrupted by a home defender, but referee Josh Croft waved away the loud Seagulls appeals.
Next, it was the home side’s turn to attack, and with the very last action of the half, the hosts went the closest they had been during the first 45 minutes, as Sam Deadfield’s ferocious effort from the edge of the box only just cleared the angle of post and bar.
HALF-TIME: St Albans City 0-0 Weston-super-Mare AFC
The second-half started with St Albans looking like they could be first to break the deadlock as Phil Chinedu headed just over from a cross. The home side mostly threatened from balls into the box throughout the game, but those deliveries were dealt with capably throughout by Will Buse and his defenders in front of him. Yeovil Town loanee Buse, playing the last game of his productive loan spell, also made a smart stop from Gio Rasulo.
Substitute McCootie was introduced to the field early in the second-half, and he was an instant threat to The Saints’ backline. The former Bath City striker shrugged off his marker and raced towards the penalty area, but with a shortage of options, his shot was deflected behind for a corner. From the set-piece, Coulson’s precise delivery was headed just wide by the impressive Kirkman.
Another Seagulls’ substitute, Jordan Bastin, was also a threat when he came on. Playing on the right, Bastin’s wicked ball across the box caused havoc but the ball was frantically cleared by the St Albans rearguard. Weston’s last couple of opportunities fell to Coulson, whose low shot from the edge of the area was superbly held by Johnson, then after Chamberlain’s wonderful diagonal ball fell to Coulson, Johnson was once again equal to the former Dartford man’s shot.
The last opportunity of the game fell to St Albans. Again, it was another cross into the box, and it was heart in mouth time for Weston, but Deadfield glanced his header wide.
This point on the road moves The Seagulls up one place to fourth in the Vanarama National League South table, as Weston made it 16 points from a possible 18.
Weston now have a fortnight’s break from league football, as The Seagulls head to Wimborne Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup next Saturday, 14th September.
FULL-TIME: St Albans City 0-0 Weston-super-Mare AFC
Weston: Buse, Chamberlain, Kirkman ( Bastin 82’), Pope, E. Lewis, Kadji, Dodd, Morgan, Bak (McCootie 55’), Reid (Jagger Cane 70’), Coulson
Unused subs: Harris, Thomas
Attendance: 1,551
Man of the Match: It was another excellent performance from Ollie Chamberlain, who defended well and showed good attacking intent when going forward.
