The Seagulls started life in the Doctor Martens Premier League with a narrow victory in a game which they just shaded against a young City side still coming to terms with wholesale personnel changes over the summer.

Both sides unveiled a number of new signings, for the home side, McKeaver, Clarke, Benton, French and Skinner have all joined during the close season. The Lilywhites in turn unveiled Jamie Godbold, signed from Lowestoft Town on Thursday with non-contract player James Quilter partnering new skipper and fellow midweek capture (from Barnet) Lee Pluck in the centre of defence. In addition Craig Pope, Rob Miller and Louis Riddle were all making their full debuts.

Under the circumstances the fact the game took time to develop any real pattern on a hardened Woodspring Park surface was understandable (City will hardly have relished an arduous journey through heavy holiday traffic on the opening day of the season either).

Robbie Simpson escapes his markers

There was an early scare for City when Shane Wardley was caught late by Danny O’Hagan but fortunately for the Lilywhites’ left back, who has just returned after a hamstring injury, he was able to carry on after treatment.

Weston applied the first early pressure forcing a series of left sided corners, from the best of these, all delivered by Mark McKeaver, skipper Billy Clarke rose highest to power a header wide of the target.

As the Seagulls began to show some fluidity Jon French laid the ball wide to the advancing McKeaver whose whipped centre looked to pick out O’Hagan but Quilter was on hand to clear for the visitors.

After a period of consolidation City began to show a little more in the final third of the pitch. On twenty minutes Jamie Godbold latched onto a headed clearance from Clarke and burst through to the edge of the box but shot tamely at Jones.

As Weston countered they were awarded a free kick (for handball) on the right hand edge of the City area. The increasingly influential McKeaver was able to find Michael Jackson but his shot was wide of the target.

As City began to establish more of a foothold Robbie Simpson’s pace got him in behind the Seagulls defence on the left flank, his powerful cross eluded everybody, including Stuart Jones who attempted to gather the ball was left clutching fresh air.

Louis Riddle’s pace down the left hand side appeared to be City’ best attacking outlet. On 28 minutes he eluded Jonathon Mills, who was struggling to contain him, only to be brought down near the corner flag. Rob Nightingale’s low right footed place kick appeared to wrong-foot Jones who palmed the ball dangerously back across the six yard box. Lee Pluck was able to react first but could only sky his shot over the bar.

Pluck was again involved shortly afterwards when he advanced down the right hand side and played the ball into the area, the ball was worked out to Riddle on the left but the former Stevenage winger was unable to keep his shot down.

Weston hit back when a free kick was awarded against Rob Nightingale just inside the City half. McKeaver delivered another quality centre which again picked out Jackson but his header was high of the target.

Rob Nightingale and Jon Mills battle for the ball following Stuart Jones' fumble

Stuart Jones uncomfortable afternoon continued as City came forward again. He was a little hesitant in coming for a Steve Benton back pass which resulted in his clearance cannoning of Danny Bloomfield. The resultant scramble saw City awarded a free kick wide on the right which Riddle curled in towards the far post. Jones juggled and spilled the centre but a foul had been committed and the danger averted.

City were now enjoying their best spell of the match. The accomplished Lee Pluck was alert in seeing Riddle free on the left and picked him out superbly with an accurate 36th minute free kick. Advancing into the box the wide man slid a low shot towards the corner of the net only for Jones to get down well and deflect the ball behind for a corner.

As the end of the half approached Benton felled Nightingale in the centre circle and picked up the only yellow card of the game. There was still time however for City to come the closest to breaking the deadlock. Riddle showed Mills a clean pair of heels only to felled yet again. Rob Nightingale’s near post delivery saw Bloomfield at full stretch poke out a boot and divert the ball against the cross bar with Jones beaten but unfortunately for the Lilywhites the ball fell safely and the chance was gone.

The break gave Weston the chance to re-group and they started the second period very much on the front foot. With the half only a minute old Weston came close to opening the scoring, however had the ball gone into the net it would have been a somewhat controversial incident. As McKeaver picked the ball up on the left Michael Jackson made a diagonal run from the right which saw him stray into an offside position, this was spotted by referee’s assistant Mr Niemirski who flagged. As the attack developed referee Hawken failed to notice the raised flag, McKeaver played in Jackson, the flag was lowered and Jackson was allowed to run on and shoot forcing Davies down low to his left palming the ball behind for a corner.

Riddle continued to be a thorn in the side of the Weston defence on 50 minutes he scampered clear yet again and delivered a decent cross which eluded Simpson who was under challenge from Clarke.

Bloomfield beats Steve Benton to the ball, but sees his shot hit the frame of the goal

This prompted Seagulls’ manager Frank Gregan to make his first change withdrawing Mills (who seemed to pick up a knock in a challenge with Riddle in the opening seconds of the half) to be replaced by striker Guiseppe Sobora, Michael Jackson slotted in at right back and the home side switched from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.

This change of tactics and personnel gave the home side the upper hand in the crucial few minutes that followed. Firstly French latched onto a quick free kick which momentarily saw him in behind the City back line but the ball was marshalled to safety by the assured Quilter.

Moments later Weston achieved the vital breakthrough. Jackson picked the ball up wide on the right in the City half. Louis Riddle may feel he should have been closer to his man but in any event Jackson sent a spiralling cross towards the far post. The ball spent a long time in the air which ought to have given City the time to get organised however an unmarked Mark McKeaver was allowed to track the flight of the centre timing his run to perfection and crash a left foot volley low to Martin Davies’ right, the City ‘keeper got hands to the ball but there was sufficient power on the shot to see it ripple the net. Whether Davies might feel he could have kept the ball out is difficult to say, there is no doubt however that he was entitled to expect better protection from his defenders.

As City looked for a way back the onus again fell on Riddle to provide the spark. With 65 minutes gone he collected a short free kick and showed superb close control to spin away from Jackson giving himself a yard of space to shoot but his effort curled narrowly wide of the post. Three minutes later Simpson collected the ball from Rob Nightingale with his back to goal, he did well to twist away from Clarke but he was unable to find a finish and his shot drifted harmlessly wide.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes the lively Sobora cut in from the left and crossed low for O’Hagan but the striker’s shot on the turn lacked power and was comfortably collected by Davies.

Gary Roberts made his only change on 80 minutes, Matt Rice replacing Jamie Godbold as City went 3 at the back, the full-backs pushing on and Louis Riddle joining Simpson and Bloomfield in attack. With increased attacking options Simpson immediately set up Bloomfield but City’s top scorer last term, having a quiet game on his return from injury, fired wide.

Simpson feels the force of Billy Clarke's challenge

Moments later the Seagulls withdrew match-winner McKeaver who was replaced by Alex Stanley in a straight swap.

As City looked for a late leveller a Louis Riddle corner broke to Rob Miller on the edge of the box, his rising shot was accurate but didn’t trouble Jones unduly who was comfortably behind the ball. With time nearly up a neat reverse pass from Simpson found the run of an advancing Wardley but whilst the City full back was able to evade the dive of Jones he was forced wide and the ball ran out of play.

As the game entered injury time Miller latched on to a Riddle through ball, raced down the left and squared dangerously back across the area. Unfortunately the strikers were a yard behind the play and Weston cleared their lines.

In the last meaningful action of the game Weston came close to doubling their lead. Awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, slightly right of centre, a well worked routine set up Stuart Slater whose curled effort was destined for the top corner before Martin Davies made excellent ground to palm the ball around the post.

A disappointing opener to the season. City will feel that on the day they could have taken a point from this game but a lack of creativity meant that they never really carved out enough clear cut openings to warrant a goal. Weston, showing a little bit more experience in key areas did enough to squeeze out a win and may well prove to be a difficult proposition for visitors to Woodspring Park.

On the positive side for City the line-up yet again showed more new faces and it’s bound to take time for all the components of the team to blend together. Aside from the goal the Lilywhites defended well Lee Pluck looks like an excellent signing and James Quilter partnered him to good effect, both made all the right decisions, got the basics right and distributed the ball well from the back.

The recent personnel changes had the greatest effect in midfield, where Riddle aside who was very effective, the link up play with the strikers was lacking. Rob Miller who has had an impressive pre-season looked less influential in a central role and Jamie Godbold will need time to adjust to the demands at this level. Once Lewis Baillie is fit his strength and power will make a significant difference.

Up front the partnership of Bloomfield and Simpson is bound to improve once they get the chance to play together regularly again.

At the moment this young City side has great potential the key for Gary Roberts will be to get the team to combine as a unit and deliver the kind of results and performances their individual ability suggests they are capable of.