Southern Weston boost Premier South promotion bid

WESTON-SUPER-MARE gained a 12th Southern League Premier South win of the season with a 3-2 success at Merthyr Town.

Scott Bartlett’s second-placed side, beaten just once in the league this season, took control of the game with two goals in the opening 12 minutes.

Jordan Bastin put them ahead, following an outside-of-the-boot through ball from Reuben Reid, and Dayle Grubb added the second after a one-two with Marlon Jackson. It became 3-0 in the 59th minute when Jackson raced past a few players and poked the ball home for a fine individual goal.

Merthyr scored twice in the final 15 minutes, through Noah Smerdon’s near-post finish and a Matthew Harris shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Weston held out for another three points.

John Rendell’s second game in charge of Yate Town ended in a 2-0 defeat at Swindon Supermarine, with their cause hampered by a 43rd-minute red card to Darren Mullings.

Harry Williams broke the deadlock on 70 minutes, and Conor

McDonagh added the second in the 85th minute.

In Division One South, the new Paulton Rovers management duo of Craig Loxton and John Durbin saw their side edged out 2-1 at fourth-placed Evesham United.

Owen James put Evesham ahead shortly before half-time, but Paulton drew level in the 47th minute when Leo Eglin scored after being played in by Dave O’Hare’s through ball.

Daniel Griffiths restored Evesham’s advantage midway through the half, and the closest Paulton came to a second equaliser was when Ed Butcher cracked a shot against the crossbar.

Bristol Manor Farm’s run of three successive wins ended with a 4-0 defeat at Willand Rovers.

Oliver Bray struck in the third minute, and went on to complete a hat-trick with further strikes after 29 and 71 minutes. William Richards added a fourth in the closing stages, while Theo Llewellyn struck the crossbar for

Farm early in the second half.