Match report written by Rob Hammett, photography by Mark Stainer. 

The Seagulls made it into the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the third time in eleven years after their hard-fought 3-1 victory at Lowestoft Town. 

The game started with Weston dominating the early possession, but soon the home side were able to start posing more of a threat by launching some pacy attacks down the flanks.

From one of those raids forward, The Trawlerboys earned a free-kick around the corner of the penalty area, and from the whipped-in delivery, Kyle Haylock applied the finishing touch to give Lowestoft the early lead and delight the large home crowd.

The bright and energetic Suffolk side continued to pour forward and both Emlyn Lewis and Sam Avery were in the right place at the right time to deny the hosts. Lewis cleared off the line and Avery got in a vital block when Lowestoft looked likely to score.

Both Lewis and Nick McCootie went fairly close with a couple of efforts, but The Seagulls didn’t seriously threaten the Lowestoft goal and the referee’s half-time whistle, in truth, couldn’t have come sooner for Weston. 

HALF-TIME: Lowestoft Town 1-0 Weston-super-Mare AFC

Whatever was said during the interval appeared to do the trick as Weston grabbed an equaliser in the 48th minute. Luke Coulson’s free-kick was headed goalwards by Avery towards McCootie, who won his duel with the Lowestoft goalkeeper and prodded home on the goal-line, much to the relief of all connected with The Seagulls. 

Although Lowestoft still looked dangerous on the attack, Weston were posing much more of a threat in the second-half as McCootie and Keiran Thomas both went close to giving the away side the lead.

Just after the hour, Weston deservedly nudged themselves in front. Lewis ran almost the length of the field to earn a throw-in high up the pitch. From the throw, the ball eventually fell to Coulson who took an immaculate first touch to take it around a defender before rifling the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the area. It was a splendid finish from Coulson, and much credit must go to Lewis for his part in the goal.

At the other end, Max Harris made two smart stops from promising Lowestoft attacks as the home side looked to get back on level terms.

With The Trawlerboys looking to equalise, this led to Weston finding more space for attacks of their own. Coulson laid the ball off to Reuben Reid, but Jack Trowbridge, Lowestoft’s 17 year-old debutant goalkeeper, made a good save and pushed the fierce effort around the post. Marley Rose was also in the thick of the action as his wicked delivery was headed behind for a corner, before he had a fantastic opportunity to get a third for Weston when his finish hit the post. The rebound fell kindly for the Bristol City loanee but he fired over.

However, with the last kick of the game, Weston were able to double their lead and seal their progression. Brandon Bak found himself in space and he unselfishly played the ball to Coulson, who stroked the ball into the net from around 12 yards for his tenth goal of the season, and his fourth brace of the campaign. 

That last-gasp goal brought obvious delight to the travelling Seagull Army and the players and staff alike, as we all now look forward to Monday night’s draw for the First Round Proper, live on BBC2 at 7pm.

FULL-TIME: Lowestoft Town 1-3 Weston-super-Mare AFC (Haylock 7’; McCootie 48’, Coulson 63’, 90’+4)

Weston: Harris, Pope, Kirkman (Thomas HT), Avery, E.Lewis, Jagger Cane, Dodd (Kadji HT), Chamberlain (Rose 10’), Coulson, McCootie (Bak 70’), Reid (Bastin 83’)

Subs not used: Absalom, Soule 

Attendance: 1,166

Man of the Match: Sam Avery. A calm yet colossal performance from the experienced centre-back, performing admirably alongside Emlyn Lewis, coping well with the dangerous Lowestoft attack.