MINEHEAD suffered their third defeat on the trot when they entertained high-riding Frome Town on Saturday and lost 4-0.

It was also the third successive match in which they have failed to score.

Despite the scoreline, Minehead's overworked defence emerged with credit and their dogged rearguard action gained much praise, with keeper Richard Gannon having an outstanding game.

Frome produced some delightful football to show why they are contenders for the Division One championship.

The match started with some tentative attacks from both teams, and after ten minutes Minehead claimed their first corner but Frome were quick to get the ball away from danger.

The visitors' leading scorer Mark Salter should have scored from close range but put his header wide, but the opening goal was not long in coming.

Following good work by Salter, Garry Lewis slotted home in the 13th minute.

Shortly after, Paul Thorpe — who played for Minehead last season — went close with a powerful header and Salter missed with a close-range header in a period when Frome were virtually queueing up for shooting practice.

Minehead's Dave Sowden collected yet another yellow card midway through the half, his vocal indiscipline getting the better of him as so often it does.

Salter should have scored in a frantic melee around the six-yard box but put his simple header wide.

The Blues brought on Garry Bennett for player manager andy Hodgson before a brilliant diving save by Gannon denied Tony Pounder.

Towards the interval, Frome Town underlined their constant pressure with a string of melees and goalmouth scrambles and Gannon produced more heroics.

However, it was no real surprise when Frome added to their tally with a goal for Pounder, who gratefully slotted home an accurate pass from Keiron White in the 41st minute.

Frome dominated for long periods in the second half, camping down within shooting distance of the home goal.

In a desperate effort to keep out the visitors, Will Giblett's hasty volleyed clearance was inches away from an own goal, and the ensuing corner was followed by two more in quick succession.

In the 64th minute, White hammered a delightful shot which Gannon could only stop with a diving block and Lewis followed up smartly to slam the loose ball home and make it 3-0.

Minehead's best efforts to get onto the score sheet were solo breaks by Brian Hall and several times his speedy bursts got him into a shooting position but he couldn't produce the finish.

Sowden almost snatched a goal when his free-kick was turned around the Frome upright by Stuart Parris.

Two late corners forced by Frome were rewarded with a fourth and final goal, Neil Smith making scoring look easy as he tucked away a chance set up by an unselfish colleague four minutes from time.