“We showed great character and quality out there today” was a delighted Weston super Mare manager Scott Bartlett’s initial comment as the National League South leaders edged out a highly competitive match at The Optima Stadium, substitute Nick McCoootie grabbing a 90th minute winner in a game of dramatically exciting proportions.

Weston, unbeaten in fourteen league games, faced a stern test with the visit of fifth placed Farnborough Town with just five points separating the teams, albeit the hosts with a game in hand and a 10-goal better goal difference prior to kick off.

The match had all the ingredients for an enticing clash with both sides losing for the first time in several games in their FA Trophy games last week [Weston losing 2-3 at the hands of Weymouth and Farnborough conceding three goals without response at Salisbury). True to expectations the match started at electric pace but before the game had got into its rhythm the visitors took the lead. Former Sheffield United frontman Ricky Holmes’ swift attack down the outside left channel on just 100 seconds fed Millar Matthews-Lewis whose astute lay off saw Joe Haigh first to react in a crowded penalty area, side footing past Max Harris in the Weston goal.

An all-action competitive half followed with chances in both boxes, and the hosts came close to equalising on seven minutes but Sam Avery, connecting brilliantly with Luke Coulson’s corner flashed his header just wide.

Weston levelled on thirteen minutes however as Coulson, racing on to Ollie Chamberlain’s through ball, fired past Jack Turner placing his accurate finish wide of the custodian’s outstretched grasp.

Matthews-Lewis was close to giving the visitors the lead on 19 minutes, although Harris’s brave goalkeeping kept his goal intact before Holmes forced a good two-handed save from the Weston goalkeeper on the half-hour. Just prior to this, the hosts survived penalty appeals as Matthews-Lewis took a tumble in the box, but the referee was having none of it.

Half-time: Weston-super-Mare 1- 1 Farnborough

Weston went in front on the hour, Sam Pearson hitting home Coulson’s deflected shot with a superb low finish but in a pulsating three minutes of end-to-end action, Holmes cut inside the 18-yard box crashing an unstoppable effort past Harris.

With nine minutes remaining, the visitors went in front through their danger-man Holmes, showing incredible fortitude speeding through Weston’s defence and finding the top corner in what appeared to be the winner and a smash and grab effort by this spirited Farnborough side, but late drama occurred and the hosts were back level on 85 minutes, an unmarked Kieran Thomas nodding Coulson’s free kick past Turner in incredible scenes.

Then on 90-minutes, substitute Nick McCootie slotted home from 10-yards netting the winner sparking delirium amongst team mates and supporters alike.

Weston now have a clear three-point lead [on thirty-seven points from seventeen games played) coupled with the best goal difference (+16] in the Division.

The Seagulls however face two long trips this week to face fourth placed Torquay United on Tuesday 26th November before a trip to seventh placed Worthing on Saturday 30th November.

Full-Time: Weston-super-Mare 4 – 3 Farnborough (Coulson 14, Pearson 61, Thomas 85, McCootie 90; Haigh 2, Holmes 64, 81)

Weston super Mare XI: Harris; Thomas; Pope; Avery, Jagger-Cane; Dodd; Reid; Pearson Bastin, 90+1); Coulson ©; Kirkman (McCootie, 71); Chamberlain. Unused substitutes: Absalom; Rose; Bak.

Attendance: 827

Man-of-the-Match: Luke Coulson – superb leadership and all-round top performance, natural leadership performance from this outstanding player!