IN their second pre-season match the new-look Minehead team had the formidable task of facing Dr Marten's league side Gloucester City, and although the much more experienced visitors gained a comfortable 5-1 victory, the young home team put up a gutsy and encouraging performance.

With 19-year-old Sean Kenny again looking dangerous in attack with his speedy runs, Minehead set up several promising early moves.

But after only five minutes Gloucester took the lead when, from a well-placed cross by Casey Johnson, a static home defence allowed Matthew Rawlins to head home at the far post.

Minehead's first real chance fell to Nick Wyborn when he broke clear but shot straight at the keeper, and when Gareth Morgan broke through his cross was also intercepted by the alert custodian.

After 17 minutes the visitors increased their lead when Johnson, who was outstanding throughout, scored from close range.

Eight minutes later it was 0-3 when a cross from Karl Bayliss was headed into the net by Rawlins for his second goal of the game.

To their credit Minehead continued to fight and after Rawlins had missed a great opportunity for his hat-trick when Adrian Cheek thwarted him with a fine save, Minehead reduced the arrears when Kenny ran onto a great through ball from Dave Burr and beat the visitors' keeper with a well-placed shot.

With both teams making several substitutions after the interval, Morgan missed a great chance of reducing the arrears when he shot over the bar.

After 65 minutes the score became 4-1 when, after a handball in the penalty box, Rawlins completed his hat-trick from the spot.

The young Minehead side had their best spell in the last 20 minutes with young substitute William Giblett particularly unlucky to see his header turned away for a corner by the keeper.

But it was the visitors who completed the scoring when, in the 85th minute, substitute Ross Casey scored with a header from a cross by Kewesi Cairns.

Minehead: A Cheek, D Burr, L Nunn, A Giblett, A Reader, S Perkins, C Carr, G Morgan, L Todd, S Kenny, N Wyborn; subs, D Sowden, R Baker, P Long, W Giblett, N Gage.

l Minehead start the new season with an away league fixture tomorrow (Saturday) at Bristol Manor Farm.

On Wednesday they are again away to Yeovil Town Reserves.

The first home match at the Recreation Ground is on Tuesday, August 22, when they meet Brislington, who last season finished third place in the Premier League.