Match Report by Liam Drury, Photography by Ade Threasher
The Seagulls lost 2 – 1 to Salisbury under The Optima lights, despite hitting the woodwork three times over the course of the 90 minutes.
One change was made from Saturday’s win at Boreham Wood, with Jason Pope coming in for Ollie Bray.
Pedro Borges had an attempt inside the first seven minutes, his low cross-shot held by Rhys Byrne in the Salisbury net following a nice reverse pass by Luke Coulson. Noah Coppin then fired over the angle of post and bar against his former side when meeting a low Aidan Elliott – Wheeler cross, before Coulson drove over the bar down the other end from 25 yards after beating a couple of challenges.
The visitors broke the deadlock when Elliott – Wheeler brought down a long ball on the right and tricked his way into a yard of space inside the area, his low shot across goal sneaking past the outstretched hand of Max Harris and inside the far post for the first goal of the evening.
Byrne did well to tip a Pedro Borges cross over the bar following a deflection, before the Exeter City loanee had a header from the resulting Coulson corner bounce off the bar and be smothered on the line by Byrne. Callum Watts then fired a shot wide from the edge of the area after seeing his first attempt blocked when driving inside.
Emlyn Lewis headed a long Harris free-kick wide of the target, before a wicked Coulson cross from the left evaded everyone in the middle and struck the base of the post. Elliott – Wheeler then dragged a shot across goal after being found in behind by Fitchett, before the Salisbury winger again came close when running into the area but seeing Harris in his way and keeping the attempt out.
Half – Time: Weston – super – Mare AFC 0 – 1 Salisbury FC
Pope fired over from 20 yards inside the opening 15 seconds of the second half, receiving the ball following a good move down the left-hand side from kickoff. Elliott – Wheeler then headed wide at the back post from Raguette’s cross, before Tom Leggett went close twice for the visitors from long-range.
Borges saw an attempt from 18 yards flash wide of the target, before Whites substitute Lewis Brown flashed an attempt wide of the target when he had the opportunity to square it. Fellow Salisbury sub Craig Fasanmade then dinked over the bar after being found in behind by Watts. Weston substitute Reuben Reid then saw a downward header from Chamberlain’s cross land straight in the arms of Byrne as Weston pushed for an equaliser.
The Seagulls were to equalise when a combination of Dodd and Reid released Borges down the right, and with Whites skipper Josh Sommerton for close attention, his ball across the six-yard box managed to find Pearson waiting at the back post who managed to scramble across the line to spark the game back into life.
Salisbury’s defence stood firm to deny Weston from a free-kick, blocking two powerful attempts from Coulson and Dodd within seconds of eachother as Weston looked to get a late winner.
It was to be the visitors who would score late on though, a pass into Brown being flicked through delightfully for Watts who stayed composed to slot in past Harris when one-on-one.
Weston went hunting for another equaliser which failed to materialise, Reid rattling the crossbar from 25 yards following a great save by Byrne to tip the attempt onto the woodwork and Coulson seeing his free-kick from a wide angle tipped away with one of the game’s final kicks.
The Seagulls now look ahead to Saturday afternoon when we make the long trip to Aveley in Essex, looking to get back on the winning trail.
Full – Time: Weston – super – Mare AFC 1 – 2 Salisbury FC (Pearson 81; Elliott – Wheeler 14, Watts 86)
Weston XI: Harris, Thomas, Kadji, Pope (Reid 55), Dodd, Pearson, Coulson, Seberry (Avery 90+2), E. Lewis (C), Borges, Chamberlain.
Unused substitutes: M.Lewis, Croft, Jenkins.
Attendance: 740
MOTM: Dylan Kadji. A composed performance from the youngster in central midfield.
