Date   6 October 2007     Competition   Blue Square South     Attendance   397     Referee   David Rock (Brookmans Park)

Lineup   1 Gareth Williams     2 Asher Hudson    h/t Hammond 3 Alan Bray     4 John Scarborough     5 Lewis Gonsalves     6 Liam Pestle     7 Tony Quinton     8 Bashiru Alimi      9 Warren McBean   72 Graham 10 Craig Watkins     11 Jason Goodchild   62 Greene          12 Zak Graham     14 Mark Hammond     15 Nicky Greene     16 Malik Buari     17 Phil Wilson

Ian Hazel went to a 3-5-2 formation for this vital game but it was clear from the early moments that the balance was not right, especially down the right flank where Pestle was chasing shadows. Nevertheless, the U’s had started in a similar way to last Saturday, with an incisive attack from the kick-off that Goodchild set Watkins on a run and win a corner. It was a Watkins overhead kick than provided the first sight of goal for either side, but the last defender did just enough to force McBean to drag his shot well wide from a good position. Weston then went ahead in the simplest of fashions, U’s going to sleep at a thrown-in and Scarborough being muscled off the ball as Hopkins took advantage of space in the box to guide the ball beyond the exposed Williams. The critical point of the afternoon came after 26 minutes when Scarborough was caught late after cleanly wining the ball on half-way only for the referee to give a free-kick the other way. U’s were still too concerned with the injustice as the kick came in and Hopkins was unchallenged as he planted a firm header beyond Williams, who was caught in no-man’s land. Goodchild responded with a chip forward that led to McBean’s shot being blocked for a corner. Watkins was having his best game of the season and when he pulled a ball across from the left Northmore did well to save from McBean at his near post.

Hudson went off injured at the interval but after a bright start to the second half U’s were buried by what appeared to be an awful offside decision, as two Weston players found themselves unmarked 10 yards beyond the Sutton defence and Wilson turned the ball past Williams. The introduction of Greene and Graham did see U’s enjoy a little bit more possession in their opponents’ half but, although the Somerset side didn’t test Williams much all afternoon, they were never in trouble and cantered to victory. Watkins continued to look lively though, forcing Northmore to react quickly to block his cross-shot after a powerful run and then watching the keeper make a top class save from his well struck volley. But it was far too little too late for the U’s and performance such as this are simply not good enough.

Weston S-M: Northmore, Willshire, McConnell, Taylor, Rand, Robertson, Wilson, Harley (Loxton 79), Hopkins, Holgate(McGregor 74) Grubb (Powell 74). subs n/u Chapman, John. Booked: Wilson(85).