A young Seagulls outfit managed to progress past a Yeovil Town side 1 – 0 at Huish Park to reach the Somerset Premier Cup quarter-finals.

11 changes were made from Saturday, with Kelland Absalom, Jordan Bastin, Dylan Kadji, Nick McCootie and Brandon Bak the first-team players to feature from the start. Ash Ozua and Theo Lynden were handed first-team debuts, while the bench was made up of Academy starlets.

McCootie was involved early on, first curling wide from 25 yards before heading over a Bastin delivery six yards out from goal. The powerful striker then set up Zak Kempster to have a go at goal from the edge of the area, however the young winger curled wide of the target.

Harvey Ayers then drove wide of the target from 25 yards as Weston continued to control proceedings early on.

The Seagulls were to take the lead when a ball was flicked in towards the feet of Lynden finding space inside the area. Challenging from behind was Morgan Alexander, who fouled Lynden in his attempt to win the ball and the referee quickly pointed to the spot. Up stepped Bak, and he calmly slotted his penalty low and out of Louis Parkers’ reach for his fourth goal in this competition.

Absalom was called into action for the first time moments later when holding Alexander’s strike from 25 yards, before Bak had a low attempt down the other end held by Parker with McCootie closing in. Absalom then gathered a low effort from Ollie Hughes, before he bravely dived in to stop Alexander from rounding him when a loose pass across the Weston defence was picked off.

Lynden fired wide of the target from 18 yards when a loose ball dropped his way, while down the other end George Geraghty saw his attempt blocked by Jack Harding. Ash Ozua had the last chance of the half when working space down the right-hand flank, cutting onto his left and driving a wicked shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Half-Time: Yeovil Town 0 – 1 WsM AFC

Joe Crisp had the first chance of the second half for the hosts, heading a Blaine Watts cross over the bar. Bastin failed to hit the target for Weston from a 25-yard free-kick, with Kempster then seeing a shot deflect wide following some great holdup play by Bak.

The flow of the second half was mainly disrupted through changes, each side permitted to make five from seven, Bak having the final real chance of the game which failed to test Parker, a free-kick curled around the wall and into the arms of the Yeovil keeper.

Weston defended astutely to head away deliveries into the box late on as Yeovil looked to pile on the pressure, but a young defence supported by Absalom saw out the game and ensured a quarter-final clash with Taunton Town in the New Year.

Full-Time: Yeovil Town 0 – 1 WsM AFC (Bak 28)

Weston XI: Absalom, Ozua, Bastin (Mutota 70), Lynden, Harding, Singfield, Ayers (Garrett 82), Kadji (Oliver HT), Bak, Kempster (Milne 85), McCootie (Green HT).

Unused substitutes: Pashley, Long.

MOTM: Theo Lynden. A controlled performance from the young midfielder on his debut, keeping the tempo ticking over while also being comfortable out of possession. A good run into the box to win the penalty.

Attendance: 487 (43 away).