Gate Closed In First Half - Weston-Super-Mare vs. Margate

View from the terrace at The Woodspring Stadium

There wasn't a lot of choice for a new ground on Good Friday and with extensive works around Bath, a lot of games in The Western League were out of reach. I therefore decided to make a weekend of it and went for Weston-Super-Mare against Margate in The Conference South. After conceding a very late leveler against St Albans, meant that Margate had to win to stand any chance of beating the drop. This was the first occasion I'd see Weston-Super-Mare play. I'd visited Hartsdown Road for a Ryman League match with Canvey Island a couple of seasons ago in a thrilling 2-2 draw and was hoping for something similar.  In the reverse fixture back in August, Margate won 3-1 and they needed a repeat today.

Final checks from the referee before kick off

Margate make the worst possible start. A Weston free kick from the edge of the box takes a big deflection to leave the keeper with no chance of preventing the opening goal. Weston look to extended their early advantage and after a ball in, the Weston player takes the ball away from own man before missing the target when he may have been better leaving it. Margate see off the flurry of chances and equalize midway through the half. A free kick from near the half way line finds the man in the box and he nods the ball home from close range. Parity doesn't last long however as Weston retake the lead - another time where I poorly timed my toilet visit. I do however see the third goal just before the break. The Weston forward controls the ball in the box and is then clattered from behind for a penalty. The penalty is duly dispatched and Margate have it all to do in the second half.

The Weston player takes on the Margate defense

Margate try to attack from the start of the second half and the Weston keeper does well to claim a free kick put into the box. The Weston attacker then manages to power through the Margate defense forcing the Margate keeper to make a good block. From another Margate free kick, the attacker is able to get the ball down before firing a low shot which the Weston keeper saves at his near post. Then from the resulting corner there is a scramble in the six yard box and the Weston defense is just about able to clear the danger. The final chance of the afternoon comes when the Weston winger is able to cut in, fire in a shot which the keeper saves with his feet.

A Weston corner in the second half

Although it is a long way to Weston-Super-Mare, the quick trains from Paddington take just over two hours. I really should have got an earlier train as I didn't feel that I was able to explore enough. A short walk from the sea front is The Imperial which had a good selection of beers. The just up the road is the excellent Brit Bar which had a couple of ales on and also had decent music on. The walk from the town takes a good forty five minutes. The clubhouse had the usual selection of drinks as well as BT Sports. If you've got a wait for your train then Off The Rails is perfect for a drink while you wait.

Another shot of the seated accommodation