Weston Athletic took a break from their excursions in the league on Saturday to face Leintwardine in the HFA Junior Cup. After a completely one sided game Weston came away with an impressive 12 nil victory.

The score line would have pleased manager Eli Wooding but what pleased him the most would have been the attitude and performance of every member of the squad. After a mixed start to the league season this is just what Weston needed.

Wooding decided to change the formation slightly and opted for a 4 – 3 – 3 formation, with Wooding, Wes Downing and Dave Nicholls, starting his first game of the season, as the front three. This worked like a dream with the three of them scoring 11 goals, two to Nicholls, four to Wooding and five to Downing, the other goal was scored by Captain Paul Burnham.

The back four looked the most comfortable they have been all season, with Adrian Robertshaw paired with Wayne Husbands in the centre. Shaun Aston and Luke Beard were filling in at full backs.

Weston took the lead after three minutes but Weston did not sit back and defend but instead pushed on. Lee Walker playing in a slightly unfamiliar midfield role excelled with some dangerous runs, knowing that Kittner and Burnham were playing the anchor roles in midfield. At half time Weston were 6 – 0 up, with all the front three scoring two goals each. The pick of the goals was Wooding's audacious chip from a tight angle which gave the keeper no chance.

At the start of the second half it was a race between the strikers to see who could get their hat trick first. In the 50th minute the bragging rights fell to Downing, after being played into a one on one by an excellent pass from Walker, Downing rounded the keeper to put Weston seven up.

Weston continued to batter the away side, playing some exceptional football along the way, scoring a further five goals in the second half. through Downing, after some brilliant individual skill and curling the ball into the bottom corner, Wooding finished brilliantly to score a further two and Captain Burnham completed the scoring. Weston could have scored more, but they had two penalties turned down, the one that they were awarded was saved from Walker.

Manager Wooding was rightfully delighted with the performance after the game, however he knows that Weston must take this sort of form into the league if they have any chance of getting promotion for the second successive season.

T R Yates Man of the Match was Wes Downing for his best performance for the club so far.

This Saturday Weston make the short trip to face Worrall Hill in the league with kick off at 2.30pm.