Men's First Team
National League South Sat 18 October Beveree Stadium
Hampton & Richmond
0
Weston-super-Mare
  • Martin (96')
1
0-1

Ahead of the game, manager Scott Rogers made four changes to his line-up as Jason Pope, Callum Wood, Jake Hicks and Charlie Cummins were named from the start in Middlesex.

The first real opportunity of the game came just before the quarter hour mark as a cross from the right from Hampton’s Ronan Silva was headed goalwards by Craig Fasanmade, but his attempt was safely caught by Max Harris on his 150th appearance for The Seagulls.

Borough kept up the pressure and a wicked, curling ball in from the left from Jude Mason deceived the Weston defenders and was prodded on by Soul Kader, but Harris made an absolutely exceptional save from point-blank range to somehow tip the ball over the bar.

Weston started to get themselves into the game as Luke Coulson’s ball into the area found the head of Louis Britton, and the ball fell to Michael Smith but his effort was just wide.

Hicks’ ambitious volley from 25 yards was also just wide, and Smith went close again, this time with a left-footed effort that curled just off target.

Beavers’ dangerman Fasanmade had a fierce near-post effort kept out by Harris, although perhaps Fasanmade should have squared for an onrushing team-mate with Weston exposed at the back, in what proved to be a let-off for The Seagulls just before the break.

HALF-TIME: Hampton & Richmond 0-0 Weston-super-Mare AFC

Weston started the second-half kicking down the slope at the Beveree, and a long ball forward from Smith found Britton. Isolated up front by himself, Weston’s top scorer did magnificently to keep the ball by skilfully twisting and turning past Hampton defenders, but he fired over after doing all of the hard work.

Martin then teed up Coulson but his curling effort was held by James Holden, and the home shotstopper also made a save from Jacob Jagger Cane following Pope’s cross from the right.

Hampton ramped up the pressure again as Jagger Cane made a superb tackle inside his own area, before Harris made an absolutely incredible save from the lively Fasanmade. The ex-Chippenham striker found himself goalside and his left-footed curling effort was destined for the top corner of the net until Harris flung himself to his right and tipped the ball to safety. Harris was clearly in no mood at all to concede on his landmark 150th game as he made another remarkable save.

And that unbelievable stop proved to be pivotal as The Seagulls grabbed all three points with practically the last kick of the game.

Substitute Sam Pearson had a shot saved as Weston broke, the ball fell back kindly to the young Welshman and his cross was guided in by Martin’s head to spark euphoric scenes for Weston players, staff and fans alike as they grabbed another fantastic win on the road.

At one point, leaving Middlesex with a point would have been sufficient, but a wonderful all-round performance enabled Weston to stay in the game and give themselves the platform to gain all three points.

FULL-TIME: Hampton & Richmond 0-1 Weston-super-Mare AFC (Martin 90’+6)

Weston: Harris, Smith, Lewis, Pope, Wood, Martin, Jagger Cane, Hicks (Salmon 90’+4), Cummins (Avery 82′), Coulson (Waite 82′), Britton (Pearson 73′)

Substitutes not used: Saunders

Attendance: 912

Men of the Match:  There were several brilliant performances across the park as a number of players stood out. However, two world-class saves from Harris to keep the score level, as well as his crisp and clean handling throughout helped Weston to another 1-0 win, their second in two weeks.