Match report written by Rob Hammett, photography by Josh Thomas

Weston picked up their first win in ten Vanarama National League South games after an excellent 3-1 victory at Dorking Wanderers.

There was much interest and excitement ahead of kick-off as the hosts celebrated their 1,000th competitive fixture, all managed by their co-founder, Marc White.

Ahead of the fixture in Surrey, The Seagulls made one change to the starting line-up as Reuben Reid was replaced by Exeter City loanee Pedro Borges, who would go on to enjoy a fine debut.

Although it was a big occasion for the home side, the opening half of football was extremely quiet, with very few chances for either team to score.

Home forward Alfie Rutherford had the first opportunity,  but he dragged his shot just wide of the far post after a long ball over the top.

Weston tried to respond when Emlyn Lewis used all of his strength to burst through the Dorking defence and set up Borges, who fired in two successive shots that were blocked.

Although opportunities to get forward had been scarce for Weston in the first-half, The Seagulls were defending extremely well against their full-time opponents.

HALF-TIME: Dorking Wanderers 0-0 Weston-super-Mare AFC

At the start of the second-half, Weston were looking like more of a threat, and the impressive Borges earned a free-kick right outside the home penalty area when he was barged off the ball by a Dorking defender.

From the free-kick, Luke Coulson tapped the ball to James Dodd who touched it back to Coulson, who spectacularly curled the ball into the top left corner of the goal past Harrison Foulkes, who stood no chance of preventing Weston taking the lead and earning Coulson his fourteenth goal of the season.

Dorking tried to get back in the game and had plenty of possession, but Weston defended stoutly and Max Harris’ handling was superb throughout.

As the game entered its final stages, The Seagulls stunned the home crowd further as they grabbed a second goal. Sam Pearson, who led the forward line extremely well all day long, slipped the ball to Jacob Jagger Cane and he put the ball on a plate for Borges when his fantastic pass across the penalty area found the run of the debutant, who then had the simplest of tasks of side-footing the ball home from eight yards out to double Weston’s lead.

The Seagulls could have made it three when Coulson’s diagonal pass found substitute Ollie Chamberlain, who fired just wide from the edge of the area.

Dorking hadn’t looked like scoring but they did reduce the arrears in injury-time to set up a slightly nervy finale to the game. Jason Prior’s goalbound shot was diverted into the net, with experienced striker Rhys Murphy being credited with the goal.

But any fears of a heart-breaking late leveller were fortunately dashed when Weston retained possession well from the kick-off as the highly-impressive Jordan Bastin ran at pace with the ball and rolled it into the path of Pearson, and he finished with aplomb as he found the corner of the net to make it 3-1 and seal a fantastic win on the road for Scott Bartlett’s side.

It was an extremely pleasing win for Weston, who defended superbly throughout and were clinical in attack in the second-half.

FULL-TIME: Dorking Wanderers 1-3 Weston-super-Mare AFC (Murphy 90’+5; Coulson 50′, Borges 76′, Pearson 90’+7)

Weston: Harris; Thomas, Emlyn Lewis, Seberry, Bastin; Kadji, Jagger Cane (Chamberlain 79′); Borges, Dodd, Coulson; Pearson

Subs not used: Avery, Morgan Lewis, Jenkins, McCootie 

Attendance: 1,623 (44 Weston supporters) – thank you for your support. 

Man of the Match: Pedro Borges. Weston were superb at the back, but debutant Borges deserves today’s accolade for a bright and energetic display, as well as Weston’s second decisive goal.