AGAINST all the odds, Minehead extracted a valuable league point away to Melksham Town on Saturday with a gutsy second half performance which belied their form in the last three matches.

Melksham, currently third in the Screwfix Direct Western League Premier Division, appeared to hold all the advantages as the kick-off was delayed until 3.30 pm with the Minehead team delayed by traffic on the M5.

The visitors had to start the match without a proper warm-up, and they soon felt the force of a Melksham onslaught, both in physical and footballing terms.

The home side were in charge for the first half hour, opening their account in the 17th minute with new signing Andy Catley, impressive throughout, scoring his first goal on his home debut.

The Blues were forced to battle to survive but went further behind when Andy Waller headed home in the 40th minute.

It looked like being a runaway home victory, particularly when Blues keeper Lee Ayres was flattened and needed several minutes' attention before he could get back on his feet.

Fortunately he was able to continue and the blow appeared to strengthen his resolve to keep Melksham from adding to their lead.

The home team went off for half-time with their two-goal advantage but Minehead manager Chris Porter used the interval to make some tactical changes and instil some steel into his team.

The Blues changed the course of the fixture in the third minute of the second half, as Darren Knowling glanced a header from a corner across the goalmouth for Gareth Morgan to head home at the far post — his first goal for Minehead since his return from Bridgwater.

Suddenly the visitors were back in a match and started to control the midfield with Damon Palfrey using all his wiles and experience to probe the home defence.

Melksham thought they had tied up the game when Mickey Brooks headed into the Minehead net, but Ayres had been fouled in the process and the score remained 2-1.

Alex Crook, another of last season's championship winning squad who has returned to the Minehead fold from Barnstaple, had taken a knock earlier in the match and it was his replacement Shane Porter who scored the all-important equaliser.

Put clear by Palfrey, he made amends for his sending off at Wellington the previous week when he outpaced through sheer persistence both a Melksham defender and the keeper to toe end the ball, which agonisingly bounced several times on its way into the net in the 67th minute.

The battle went on to the final whistle, Nick Whyborn replacing Steve Nicholls for the last ten minutes, but the Blues held out for a crucial away point.

Minehead: Lee Ayres, Dave Burr, Andy Reader, Adrian Giblett, Darren Knowling, Lee Porter, Gareth Morgan, Steve Nicholls, Nick Woon, Damon Palfrey, Alex Crook, subs Nick Stone, Nick Whyborn, Shane Porter.