Match Report by Liam Drury, Photography by Ade Threasher

A late Reuben Reid finish saw the Seagulls extend their unbeaten league run to 12 games following a 1 – 1 draw with Weymouth under The Optima lights.

Four changes were made following Saturday’s exhilarating effort at Bristol Rovers, with Marley Rose, Brandon Bak, Sam Pearson & Ollie Chamberlain all coming into the starting lineup. Jordan Bastin, Dylan Kadji & Reuben Reid started the match from the bench, while Emlyn Lewis missed out after his injury at The Memorial Stadium.

Leo Hamblin and Christie Ward started the game well for Weymouth, seeing shots inside the opening few minutes blocked before Sam Avery was in the right place at the right time to cut out a low Jordan Maguire-Drew cross as Jayden Bartolo looked ready to pounce.

Max Harris was made to be alert from Bartolo’s low ball across the face of goal, Weston’s No.1 diving on the ball with Ward ready to profit at the back post unmarked. Hamblin then scuffed wide from 25 yards when picking up a loose ball, before Chamberlain drove over from 30 yards down the other end in Weston’s first shot of the game.

The visitors came remarkably close to taking the lead when a Maguire-Drew free-kick from 20 yards struck the underside of the crossbar, bouncing down on the line and with Bartolo steaming in to head home from a yard out, Jason Pope got there first and hooked away from danger.

With the final chance of the half, Marley Rose sliced wide on the volley from 20 yards following Luke Coulson’s ball in from the right being headed clear.

Half-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 0 – 0 Weymouth

Weymouth started the second half stronger, Keelan O’Connell firing over from inside the area following Maguire-Drew’s ball into the area. Harris was then worked for the first time when pushing a Maguire-Drew shot from 20 yards round the post, before Weston were made to clear away from underneath their own crossbar following Maguire-Drew’s excellent corner from the right-hand side.

O’Connell and Maguire-Drew then had further attempts at goal for the visitors, just missing the target from outside the area when getting the opportunity to shoot. Weston then had penalty appeals when substitute Kadji broke into the area, going down under the challenge of Hamblin, but referee Lewis Sandoe waved protests for a penalty area. O’Connell then shot straight at Harris from 20 yards, the keeper able to gather his tame effort.

The visitors took the lead with 16 minutes to go with an excellent individual strike, Bartolo coming away from a duel with the ball 25 yards out and firing a superb strike into the top corner on his left foot, the attempt clipping the crossbar on it’s way in with Harris having no chance of stopping the shot.

Weymouth looked to put the game beyond doubt with Jordan Thompson heading a Maguire-Drew corner wide, while down the other end Reid saw a shot blocked inside the area as he looked to get the Seagulls level.

If there is one thing that Scott Bartlett’s sides have become synonymous with during his five-and-a-half years in charge, is that they never know when they are beaten and Weston were to find themselves on level terms with just minutes to spare. Getting his foot on the ball in midfield, James Dodd fizzed a pass into the feet of Kadji who flicked a pass in behind first-time with the outside of his foot. Racing in behind was Reid one-on-one, and the striker stayed composed to slot in past Will Buse for his fourth goal of the campaign.

Weymouth were to have one final chance, with Brooklyn Genesini heading wide at the back post from a free-kick.

Following six minutes of injury-time, the referee blew for full-time and Weston’s attention now turns to a local derby with Somerset rivals Bath City, away at Twerton Park, this Saturday.

Full-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 1 – 1 Weymouth (Reid 88; Bartolo 74)

Weston XI: Harris, Thomas, Pope, Avery, Dodd, Pearson, Coulson (C), Rose (Kadji 55), Kirkman (Bastin 82), Chamberlain, Bak (Reid 55).

Unused substitute: Absalom.

Man of the Match: Reuben Reid. A strong cameo from the bench from Reuben provided the side with a vocal point during the latter stages of the game and saw the No.9 net a vital goal late on.

Attendance: 786.