Weston Athletic reached their first ever cup final on Saturday, just over 18 months after forming, with a hard fought 2 – 1 away win against Staunton and Corse in the second leg of the semi final of the Geo Sandoe Cup. The first leg ended 3 – 3, eventually putting Weston through 5 – 4 on aggregate.

Weston started the game knowing a victory was required to see them through to the final after the first leg ended all square two weeks ago. Managers Morris and Burnham made a couple of changes from last week's game. Steve Kittner returned after his one match suspension and Wes Downing returned from injury to partner Eli Wooding.

Weston reverted back to their favoured 3 – 5 – 2 formation, with Paul Burnham, Wayne Husbands and Shaun Aston at the back, midfield consisted of Jack Bray, Lee Walker, Kittner, Dave Nicholls and Liam Parry, with Wooding and Downing up front.

Both sides started the game a little nervously, with much of the play in the middle third of the pitch. Weston always looked dangerous when attacking but at times their final ball let them down. Whilst the home side's front two were always busy they were being expertly marked by Weston's back three.

On 25 minutes just as Weston started to get the upper hand, they went one down. The home side's striker was given too much space on the edge of the box and finished well into the bottom corner to put them one up. Weston did not drop their heads and continued to play the better football, in particular Walker was having an outstanding game in the middle of the pitch.

Weston came close to equalising after 30 minutes, a neat one two between Walker and Burnham, saw Walker fire over the bar from 15 yards. But just as it seemed Weston would go into half time one down, a brilliant ball by Walker played in Wooding, who calmly went round the on-rushing keeper and finished into an empty net to level up the scores.

The second half started much like the first, with the majority of play in and around the centre circle. Both sides were performing admirably in defence with Weston's back three having one of their best games of the season. Nicholls had more of a licence to roam in midfield and was picking Wooding and Downing out with some dangerous through balls. Only some last ditch tackles stopped them from getting a clear shot on target.

The home side made a couple of changes in the second half, which gave them more threat when going forward, but a good stop by Morris in goal and a brilliant tackle by Husbands kept the scores at 1 – 1, and the game seemed destined for extra time.

However on 85 minutes Aston found space out wide and put in an excellent cross which was misjudged by the keeper, allowing Kittner to score from close range to put Weston ahead. Weston were elated when the final whistle went. They face St Briavels in their first final on Easter Monday, April 9th.

T R Yates Man of the Match was Lee Walker for an outstanding game in centre midfield.

This week Weston are back to league duties when they travel to face Blakeney, kick off at 2.30pm.