MINEHEAD failed to complete their first double of the season in a thrilling 3-3 drawn game with Yeovil Town Reserves at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

In the 8th minute keeper Lee Ayres made a fine save when he smothered the ball at the feet of James Bent, but seven minutes later Bent gave the visitors the lead when a long ball put him clear of the defence and, controlling the ball deftly, he easily beat the keeper.

Within a minute Minehead were back on level terms when Darren Knowling flicked on a corner for leading scorer Nicky Woon to rise at the far post and head his seventh goal of the season.

With Damon Palfrey controlling the midfield in admirable fashion, Minehead gradually gained the upper hand and were unlucky not to take the lead on several occasions.

Palfrey saw a great effort come back off the bar and from a low cross by Gareth Morgan, the hard working Woon somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar.

After the interval Yeovil came back into the game and it required a good save by Ayres to prevent them from scoring.

In the 65th minute, the home side took the lead when, from a cross by Mark McKenna from the left, Morgan cleverly headed the ball over the keeper and it dropped into the net just under the crossbar.

Five minutes later the scores were again level when Paul Metheringham scored after Ayres failed to hold a shot from Glen Poole.

With eight minutes to go it appeared that Minehead would complete the double when from another corner, Knowling's glancing header was deflected into the net by Yeovil's Paul Steel.

Unfortunately Minehead's suspect defence were to concede another goal. Three minutes before the final whistle, the visitors gained a well deserved point when Bradley Peters saw his excellent low long shot flash into the net.

Minehead: L Ayres, D Burr, A Crook, A Giblett, D Knowling, L Porter, A Payne, G Morgan, N Woon, D Palfrey, M McKenna; subs, S Porter, A Reader, N Stone.