Match Report by Liam Drury
Late goals from Leighton Green and Jordan Bastin saw the Seagulls progress to the Somerset Premier Cup Final after beating old rivals Clevedon Town on derby day.
Scott Bartlett named a strong starting lineup, with the likes of Max Harris, Dylan Kadji and Will Dawes all keeping their places from our recent league game against Chelmsford City. James Waite made his first start since suffering a leg break last August, while there was a full complement of Academy players named on the bench.
Young winger Harvey Ayers had an effort blocked inside the area early on when getting the ball down the right, before former Seagull Lucas Vowles saw a lob blocked by the onrushing Harris after being found over the top. Another two of Clevedon’s former Weston players would then go close, George King seeing a 20-yard free-kick blocked before Freddie King’s cross to the back post found defender Glen Hayers, whose side-footed volley was tipped behind by Harris.
Oli Jenkins had an acrobatic effort from Dawes’ corner held by James Dunn, before the Clevedon shot-stopper was called into action to stop a Jamie Soule shot after the striker had picked up the loose ball following Kadji’s run in behind. Keiran Thomas then rose highest amongst the bodies in the box to meet a Bastin free-kick, but he headed straight into the arms of Dunn.
Ayers would then have another shot blocked from 20 yards, before Vowles went close down the other end as his attempt from 20 yards on the left foot was clawed away low down by Harris.
Half-Time: Clevedon Town 0 – 0 Weston-super-Mare AFC
The second half continued at a fast tempo just like the first half, Dawes firing over from the edge of the area before George King hooked a loose ball over the bar down the other end following Freddie King’s free-kick. Captain for the night Jacob Jagger Cane then got an opportunity from 20 yards when collecting a Clevedon clearance from Ayers’ cross, but he drove over on the left foot.
The hosts began to turn the screw 20 minutes from time, Seasiders captain and former Weston academy graduate Syd Camper glancing a Freddie King corner narrowly wide of the far post. Alex Camm then found himself in behind a minute later, but he fired straight at Harris and some last-ditch defending from the Seagulls defence saw Clevedon thwarted inside the area when blocking efforts from Elliot Nicholson and George King.
With his final touch of the game before being substituted, Waite fired over the bar from 20 yards when being found inside by Soule. Young substitutes Zak Kempster and Green then combined to almost break the deadlock, the latter heading the former’s cross wide at the near post.
Green would be the man to break the deadlock seven minutes from time when Dawes’ trickery down the right saw him whip an inch-perfect cross into the near post, where Green could simply guide his header home past Dunn for his second goal in the Somerset Cup this campaign.
Bastin was to wrap up our route to the final when a free-kick was awarded 25 yards out following a foul on Jagger Cane. Bastin stepped up, his left-footed strike deflecting off the wall and finding the back of the net for his second goal this season.
There was still time for a couple of chances late on, Clevedon substitute Sam Beresford seeing a shot tipped wide by Harris before Soule side-footed a shot straight into the gloves of Dunn. Beresford was to go close again down the other end when his cross-shot narrowly evaded the boot of Freddie King as he closed in on goal.
The Seagulls will now progress to the Somerset Premier Cup Final where they will face Frome Town at the home of Bath City, Twerton Park.
Weston are back in action this Saturday, when they host Chesham United at The Optima Stadium in Vanarama National League South action.
Full-Time: Clevedon Town 0 – 2 Weston-super-Mare AFC (Green 83, Bastin 88)
Weston XI: Harris, Thomas, Bastin, Kadji (Oliver 64), Seberry, Jenkins, Jagger Cane (C), Ayers (Kempster 77), Soule, Waite (Green 77), Dawes.
Unused substitutes: Singfield, Harding.
MOTM: Oli Jenkins. A composed display by the youngster at centre-back, quick to sniff out any promising Clevedon attacks and comfortable in possession to keep the tempo flowing.
Attendance: 412.
