THE recent fire at the Irnham Road grandstand had repercussions for Minehead on Saturday when they displayed a lack of match fitness and sharpness as they went down 4-2 at Bristol Manor Farm.

Despite midweek training, they missed the continuity of match play following the enforced postponement of games with Dawlish and Mangotsfield, and weren't helped by the bounce of the ball going against them and two critical refereeing decisions.

The home team played with the wind and slope in the first half, which started in astonishing fashion with a penalty in the first minute.

The Blues' defence had been re-arranged to accommodate the return of Darren Knowling and they were caught flat-footed in the very first attack when a home striker was put clear.

Keeper Lee Ayres rushed out to try to save the day but as the player rounded the keeper and shot towards the empty net, Nick Wyborn appeared from nowhere to hook the ball away.

But before his team-mates could congratulate him, the referee awarded a penalty because he felt Ayres' attempted save constituted a foul, and Manor Farm opened their account with a well-struck drive that gave Ayres no chance.

The opening excitement was maintained as Minehead immediately equalised. Wyborn broke on the right wing and his first-time cross was dropped by the keeper for Shane Porter to drive home from six yards.

For ten minutes play went from end to end with half chances falling to each team and neither able to settle or take control.

In the 20th minute the referee struck again.

Manor Farm hit a long ball up the left channel and the assistant referee immediately flagged for offside.

The ball glanced off the back of Andy Reader's head and fell into the path of Manor Farm's winger, who ran through to slot the ball past Ayres and into the net.

The referee overruled his linesman, arguing that the deflection from Reader had played Manor Farm onside, despite the offence preceding the deflection.

The Blues almost hit back straight away again when leading scorer Nick Woon was put clear from the restart but with only the keeper to beat, he delayed his shot long enough for the keeper to scramble a save.

End to end play continued with the home side edging proceedings until a minute before half-time.

Minehead won a corner which was well-struck by Damon Palfrey, Gary Bennett met it with a fierce header which hit the post, and Nick Stone forced the ball home to level the scores.

The second half started like the first with the home team scoring in the first minute. Alex Crook and Reader had time to repulse the opening Bristol raid but tried to interpass the ball in a dangerous position. Crook's blast was charged down and Bannerman outpaced Knowling to slide the ball past Ayres.

Again the Blues almost immediately replied with a direct free kick from Palfrey shaving the wrong side of the upright.

Minehead brought on Adrian Giblett for the out of sorts Knowling and this tightened up the defence.

Up front, it looked as though the visitors had found their equaliser when Crook received a pass from Palfrey and fired a fierce shot goalbound, only to see it scrambled off the line.

Minehead substituted Steve Nicholls for Gary Bennett and pushed Nick Stone up front to try to get back into the match but the next good chance fell to the home team, a brilliant shot just being tipped over the bar by Ayres.

The Blues brought on Lee Porter for Wyborn, and in the dying minutes won a free kick on the left, but Palfrey's fierce drive beat everyone only to fly narrowly past the upright.

The home team's fourth goal came from Paul Bainbridge as he clinically finished in front of goal following an excellent break on the right and accurate cross to the near post.

Despite the result, Minehead stay above Manor Farm in the Premier Division.

Minehead: Lee Ayres, Darren Knowling, Alex Crook, Andy Reader, Nick Stone, Shane Porter, Andy Payne, Nick Wyborn, Nick Woon, Damon Palfrey, Gary Bennett, subs Adrian Giblett, Steve Nicholls, Lee Porter (all used).

l Tomorrow (Saturday) Minehead at last play their first home match of the New Year when they entertain Frome Town in the Les Phillips League Cup (ko 3pm).

They will be looking for a place in the quarter-finals against a side currently low down in the Screwfix Direct First Division.