Weston Athletic travelled the short distance to face Newent Town Reserves on Saturday. They are in the league above Weston, in the last 16 of the Geo Sandoe Cup.

Weston continued their recent good form and came away with a 4 – 2 victory, having been behind twice, to march forward to the quarter finals.

The new management duo of Dan Morris and Paul Burnham had a fully fit squad available for the first time this season. Shaun Aston and Chalky Robertshaw again being partnered together in the centre of defence and Dave Nicholls being pushed up front to support Eli Wooding. Five players were named on the bench, including the returning Wayne Husbands and Steve Kittner.

In the first half Weston struggled to get their foot on the ball and enjoy long spells of possession. Credit must go to the home side who hassled and harried Weston's midfield and defence when they had the ball. Newent got the goal they deserved after 15 minutes. Some slack defending allowed the home sides left midfielder to beat the off side trap and finish well past Keeper Morris.

Up until this point Weston had not really created a meaningful chance at goal. Then, after 25 minutes, and some indecision in the home side's back line, Wooding was able to level up the scores.

The home side continued to push forward and put Weston's back line under pressure. Weston again switched off defensively after 35 minutes when a short corner was not closed down. A good ball into the box was finished well at the back post to put Newent 2 – 1 up.

Weston did not let their heads drop and for the last ten minutes of the first half they started to play their best football in the match. Then two minutes before the break a good ball into the box by Burnham was misjudged by the keeper and it fell to Lee Walker, who dummied two players before smashing the ball into the net from 12 yards to tie the scores at 2 – 2 at the break.

The game turned with the first kick of the second half when Wooding amazingly scored direct from the kick off to put Weston ahead for the first time in the game.

This seemed to destroy the home side's confidence and increased Weston's, as they dictated the rest of the game.

Kittner came on for Downing after 60 minutes to add his tough tackling to the centre. After 65 minutes the game was over. Wooding was played in 1 on 1, again by Burnham, to finish clinically. He put Weston 4 – 2 up and completed his well deserved hat trick, for which he was awarded T R Yates Man of the Match. Weston now look forward to a quarter final tie.