Fleet suffered more heartbreak on the road as a late, late goal sunk their efforts for a first away point after an amazing first-half goal blitz.
Steve Brown was forced into several changes by Daryl McMahon’s suspension and Alex Osborn’s injury, which left him down to the bare bones. Nonetheless, it was an attacking lineup, with Matt Godden replacing Osborn and Tommy Fraser slotting in for the skipper. And Fleet were forced to draft in Academy youngster Casey Johnson and Leo Mazzone, recently returned from his loan at Sittingbourne.
The visitors made a customary bright start but were undone by two goals in five minutes, the first coming courtesy of an excellent finish from Jamie Lucas on 14 minutes after being played through on goal. Weston then raced into a two-goal lead when Joe McClenan grabbed a second against a shellshocked Fleet who were then forced to replace the injured Shane Huke with Aiden Palmer.
The home side must have been hoping to see their lead out until half-time and they certainly didn’t expect the response shortly afterwards that Fleet provided when a Charlie Sheringham brace inside two minutes hauled the visitors back to level pegging – a total of four goals in nine minutes.
Such a chaotic first-half didn’t give rise to a particularly tumultuous second, though Dayle Grubb went close for the home side just after the break. The Fleet tried to press home their superior attacking tendencies but the home defence stuck to their task well and delivered a textbook sucker punch late on. With the game entering the fifth of eight minutes of time added on – due mainly to an injury sustained by the assistant referee – Weston counterattacked and Jacob Cane broke the travelling fans’ resolve to nick all three points and leave the Fleet with much soul-searching on the long trip home.
TEAM: Edwards, Huke (Palmer 19), Howe, Fraser (M. Johnson 83), Acheampong, Clark, Godden, Rance, Sheringham, Bricknell, Cook. Subs not used: Hall, Mazzone, C. Johnson)
Att: 499
