Three changes were made from Saturday’s draw against Taunton, with Jason Pope, Will Dawes & Luke Skinner all coming into the starting XI. Coulson, James Waite & Sam Avery dropped to the bench.

Britton had the game’s first chance when he got on the end of a low Dawes cross six yards out, his toe-poke from an angle kept out by the knee of Frankie Phillips in the Taunton goal. Dawes and Sam Pearson then had shots straight at Phillips from long-range, before Jacob Jagger Cane drove over from 18 yards when the ball dropped his way from a corner.

Britton had a 25-yard free-kick dip wide of the target when presented with the opportunity to line up the dead-ball, while former Weston man Alfie Moulden drove over the target down the other end from 25 yards on the half-hour mark. Kane Simpson then had an opportunity for the Peacocks when stretching to meet a Moulden free-kick, but the ball glanced off of his shoulder and wide of Max Harris’ goal.

The Seagulls were to break the deadlock just before the interval when from a Taunton pass, Dodd helped the ball up to Skinner on halfway. Hitting the Peacocks on the counter, the teenager took his man on and beat him 18 yards out before being fouled as he drove into the area. Referee Neil Pratt played an excellent advantage, as the loose ball squirmed free for Britton to hammer home at Phillips’ near post for 1 – 0.

Half – Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 1 – 0 Taunton Town

Britton had the opening chance of the first half as well, the No.9 heading over from six yards after Skinner had kept a deep Michael Smith cross alive at the back post. Down the other end, Simpson fired wide of the target after getting the wrong side of Wood.

The Seagulls were to get their second of the night, again through the combination of Skinner and Britton. The former won possession on the left touchline and managed to turn his man before driving at the Taunton defence again. A couple of ricochets allowed the loanee to make his way towards the byline inside the box, and he squared the ball back for Britton to sweep in on his right foot from six yards into the far corner for his seventh goal of the campaign,

Peacocks substitute Owen Brain forced Harris into his first save of the night, a shot being kept out by his feet inside the area. Skinner sliced wide of the near post for the Seagulls when being forced onto his right foot inside the area, while Pearson then forced Phillips to tip over after taking a long pass over the top on his chest and racing into the area.

Harris was again forced to keep a Brain one-on-one out with his feet inside the box, before Skinner had a shot kept out by Phillips on the counter following a Peacocks corner.

The final goal was to come with the final kick when Britton was pulled back by Austen Booth as he looked to drive into the area. With the angle favouring either foot, and in very similar fashion to the opener against Dorking Wanderers away from home last campaign, Coulson rolled the free-kick to Dodd. The midfielder set it back for the vice-captain, who curled a beautiful effort over the outstretched dive of Phillips into the far corner to wrap up the tie.

Full – Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 3 – 0 Taunton Town (Britton 44, 65, Coulson 90+7)

Attendance: 1,014

Weston XI: Harris, Smith, Jagger Cane, Wood, Dodd, Britton, Pearson (Hicks 90), Dawes (Waite 89), Pope, Lewis (C), Skinner (Coulson 76).

Unused substitutes: Avery, Glover, Woods, Salmon.

Man of the Match: Louis Britton. Another strong showing from the No.9 who has begun to develop a great understanding with his fellow forwards. Two poachers’ finishes from the striker to record a second consecutive brace at home.