A first-half goal from the hosts settled this match in Fleet’s first visit to Weston-Super-Mare since 2016. It was a strong start for the Fleet with Finlay Barnes a threat to the Weston defence and to keeper Max Harris, as Barnes looked to catch him off his line with a looping shot that the goalkeeper eventually gathered.

Good build-up play by the Fleet allowed Barnes to drive the ball forward before he was forced wide to Ben Coker whose delivery reached Charlie Seaman but his first-time effort was off target.

Another solid chance came just before the 10-minute mark when Banres was brought down on the edge of the D – Coker stepped up for the free-kick but it curled into the arms of the Seagulls keeper.

Weston took their time to settle against the Fleet and it wasn’t until 15 minutes when Emlyn Lewis’s volley on goal went wide that they threatened. But the opener arrived in favour of the hosts when Scott Wilson, on his return to the club from Bath City, was able to get on the end of a free-kick delivery and tuck the ball past Jonathan Macaulay.

The Fleet continued to enjoy possession and set pieces offered chances too. A short corner saw both Barnes and Seaman dispatch shots towards goal but the hosts cleared their lines.

It was a busy half for Barnes who took on Kwesi Appiah’s pass after he robbed Weston of possession in a dangerous position but that effort went just wide.

The final chance of the half came from a deep Josh Passley cross that forced Harris to jump into action to maintain his clean sheet.

The second-half began with the Fleet keeping Weston penned back and Seaman whipped in a number of deliveries while Gene Kennedy’s effort from the edge of the area was a good one.

The closet moment came when Seaman’s free-kick forced Harris into a low dive as Weston just about kept themselves in front.

A huge chance to level the scores came when the Fleet were awarded a penalty following a handball. Appiah stepped up to take but couldn’t keep his spot kick down and still the equaliser eluded his side.

Weston’s defending was turned into attack on occasion and they looked to double their lead through Lewis Britton but Macaulay did well to keep that from going over his goalline. The home side, who have won all but one at home this season, proved that statistic is why they have settled into second place while Fleet will look to recover with a double-header of home games next up at the Kuflink Stadium.

EUFC: Macaulay, Passley, Coker (Peake 74), Nelson (Dallison 78), Olagunju, Seaman, Hessenthaler, Kennedy (Edser 60), Barnes (Moncur 62), Coley (Cosgrave 62), Appiah. Subs not used: Samuel, Hall
WSM: Harris, Smith, Wood, Avery, Coulson, Dodd, Britton, Lewis, Sercombe (Bernard 66), Cummins, Wilson (Birch 58). Subs: Johnson, King, Hicks, Glover
Attendance: 795
Photos: ©EUFC/Katie Humphris