The Fleet followed up Tuesday’s night’s second-half with one of the best performances for a long time in the view of many of the watching supporters. The hosts raced into a 4-0 first-half lead which might have been double that given the number of opportunities created.
Josh Wright made two changes to his side as Kwesi Appiah and Toby Edser came in ahead of Aramide Oteh and Finlay Barnes.
Despite the two games a week schedule this month, Fleet made a really energetic start with a flurry of chances in the opening moments of the match. Daniel Ogunleye had successive opportunities but the visitors were able to nick one of those off the line.
The Fleet didn’t need to wait too long for an opener – a fine long ball from Lennon Peake on the left dropped for Appiah who timed his run to perfection. A quick touch on the ball allowed the Fleet skipper to slip through the Weston’s defence and he rounded goalkeeper Max Harris to score.
Ben Chapman looked to double that advantage with a curling effort but that was comfortable for Harris before Camron Gbadebo hit a fine shot from range which forced a save from the Seagulls goalkeeper.
On 17 minutes, a free-kick was awarded to the Fleet and Peake stepped up on the right-hand side from an angle. He sent the ball into the area and it was Ogunleye who clinmbed highest to head the ball home.
The third goal arrived six minutes later as Peake again provided the assist, this time from a corner, and Appiah’s header was too powerful for Harris to handle and in it went.
The chances continued with the home fans spoiled for choice. Toby Edser’s shot from distance was just wide and Ogunleye saw efforts go the wrong side of the posts. A foul on Gbadebo in the box went unnoticed but that fourth goal arrived five minutes before half-time. Ogunleye did brilliantly to retrieve possession as Weston looked to clear and quick interplay with Gene Kennedy saw the midfielder hold off challenges before blasting a shot high into the net.
There was nearly a fifth too as Chapman’s effort went close but he couldn’t quite find the target and, with Weston reduced to a poor Luke Coulson free-kick that hit the wall, Fleet fans had plenty to feel good about.
They felt even better less than five minutes into the second half. James Vennings chased down his man to get a low cross into the box and Ogunleye latched on to the ball for his second goal.
Harris kept out Ogunleye again before substitute Oteh’s run and turn looked like it was going to produce another before Weston managed to clear.
It was another sub who took the headlines as Charlie Seaman made his first appearance of the season and within five minutes of coming on, he had fired home a free-kick after Oteh was brought down.
A consolation goal for the visitors saw Ollie Hulbert dive towards a corner delivery out of Will Buse’s reach but the afternoon got worse for the visitors when they ended the match with 10 men. Defender Michael Smith tangled with Ogunleye and reacted violently as the two grappled on the floor, resulting in a card each – red for Smith, yellow for Ogunleye.
EUFC: Buse, Passley (Tizzard 59), Nelson, Gbadebo, Vennings (Box 75), Kennedy, Chapman (Seaman 68), Peake (Walker 63), Edser, Ogunleye, Appiah (Oteh 54). Subs: Vokins, Barnes.
WSMAFC: Harris, Smith, Voice (Martin 70), Avery (Pope 46), Long, Bennett (Skinner 64), Derrick (Hulbert 46), Sercombe (Dawes 77), Jenkins-Davies, Coulson, Ash. Subs: Britton, Robesten.
Attendance: 1,092
Photos: ©EUFC, Ed Miller, Tom Harris
