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Weston-super-Mare AFC - Match Reports

Match reports - Season 2007 - 2008

Weston 3 - 1 Thurrock
Weston kicked off the new Blue Square South with a Win!

11/08/2007 -Blue Square South - 3.00pm

Sunny

Weston kicked off the new Blue Square South campaign with this well deserved victory over a Thurrock side that had spent 6 hours travelling from Essex, overcoming horrendous problems on the motorways, and causing the game to be delayed by 45 minutes.

Manager Tony Ricketts' new look squad really took to the task and proceeded to produce some of the best football seen at the Stadium in many a long year. Earning rave reports from the Weston faithful, albeit only a spartan crowd of 244 turned out in the August sunshine, and if this is a sign of things to come then the fans will surely be in for a tremendous season.

It was the visitors who had the first golden chance of the game when after just 2 minutes Weston keeper Ryan Northmore produced the first of several world class saves when he somehow managed to palm away a drive from Wesley Thomas from all of 3 yards out.

Weston began to take control of the game after this early scare and Dean Grubb, who had a splendid game, cut down the right but his cross into the box was cut out. Grubb then fed Andy Robertson, who in turn found Man of the Match Ashan Holgate, but his cross was too close to keeper Shane Gore and the ball was easily gathered. Holgate was then involved in the next move when he found skipper Craig Loxton but his attempt to find Gareth Hopkins in the area was just too fast for the rejuvenated striker.

On 18 minutes the deadlock was broken, from a throw in on the left, Hopkins charged to the by line, his cross went behind the defence and found Loxton who gleefully drilled the ball low into the far corner.

The Seagulls suffered a blow on 25 minutes when the influential Craig Rand had to limp off with knee ligament damage, an injury which looks like keeping him on the sidelines for at least the next 3 weeks. Substitute Aaron Wilson came on to deputise. Thurrock should have equalised on 31 minutes when Che Stadhart set up Thomas but again he drilled his effort wide from 2 yards out. Thomas should have done better moments later but again Northmore pulled off a tremendous point blank save to deny the astonished striker.

Weston's next chance came when Holgate and Grubb set up Hopkins but his header was just off target, but just 6 minutes later Weston had doubled their advantage. Holgate, seemingly everywhere on the pitch, fed Loxton, his superb through ball set Hopkins towards goal, after rounding the keeper his effort, from a narrow angle, crashed against the crossbar but fell kindly to Grubb who turned and shot home from 10 yards.

On the stroke of half time came the double save of the season, Northmore, who looked like he was determined not to be beaten all afternoon, first of all denied Dominic Green from point blank range, then without having time to blink, pulled off another point blank save from the rebound which had been struck by the unfortunate Thomas.

At the start of the second half Weston continued to attack and Loxton forced Gore to palm the ball over his crossbar from a teasing cross before on 57 minutes the match was put beyond the visitors. Another throw in found Hopkins, this time he laid the ball into the path of Holgate, and after taking a couple of paces forward, the new recruit ended the move by rifling a shot past the desperate reach of Gore and into the bottom corner.

Thomas, who will probably not come up against a finer keeper all season, then saw another effort saved by the inspired Northmore, but even Northmore was lucky to escape on 75 minutes when a cross from Fola Orilinishe was somehow scooped over the bar from just 2 yards out by the now despairing Thomas. Thomas did find some kind of solace on 86 minutes when his speed got him to the ball before the veteran Billy Clark, Clark's trailing leg bringing down the speedy striker and Referee Stephen Robbins had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Thomas picked himself up and drilled home the spot kick just under the diving Northmore. All in all a good day at the office and whilst we should not get too carried away with this victory, the manner in which it was achieved, with every player not only giving their all but also playing for one another, this could be the season when the Seagulls, 6/4 favourites for relegation, make a few people eat their words.

Game Statistics

Weston-super-Mare scorers - Loxton 18, Grubb 37, Holgate 57
Thurrock scorers - Thomas 86 pen
Shots on target -
Shots off target -
Corners -
Offsides -
Freekicks -
Bookings -
Refereee - Stephen Robbins

Thurrock Team: Gore, Clark, Flynn, Cole (Anderson 70), Paine, Wood, Green, Pugh (Plummer 81), Thomas, Stadhart, Orilonishe. Subs not used Mann, Yoxall, Yozcu.

Team Summary

Player	Played	Goals	Yellow	Red	MOTM	Ratings
Ryan Northmore [Goalkeeper]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 270/405 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ben Willshire [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 190/320 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Barry McConnell [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 262/470 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Billy Clark [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 224/365 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Craig Rand [Defender]	Subbed Off					Official: 3/5 Fans: 190/315 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Andy Robertson [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 205/370 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Craig Loxton [Midfield]	Full Game	1				Official: 4/5 Fans: 237/390 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Marc McGregor [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 212/360 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Gareth Hopkins [Midfield]	Subbed Off					Official: 4/5 Fans: 222/345 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ashan Holgate [Forward]	Full Game	1				Official: 5/5 Fans: 205/335 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Dean Grubb [Forward]	Subbed Off	1				Official: 4/5 Fans: 264/470 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Aaron Wilson [Defender]	Subbed On					Official: 3/5 Fans: 194/315 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Lewis Powell [Midfield]	Subbed On					Official: 3/5 Fans: 200/315 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Lee Smith [Forward]	Subbed On					Official: 3/5 Fans: 230/400 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5

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