MINEHEAD were knocked out of the Somerset Premier Cup last Wednesday evening when they squandered a 3-0 half-time lead to lose 6-3 at Wellington Town.

Four of Wellington's goals came in the final nine minutes as Minehead let themselves down and had two players sent off.

Minehead were without Darren Knowling, declared unfit just before the kick-off, and the absence of his height in the penalty area was to prove an important factor.

The Blues were gifted an early goal after four minutes when, attacking on the left flank, Nick Stone scored with an angled shot which home keeper Stuart Parris appeared to have covered but allowed to squirm out of his hand and over the line.

Wellington were penned down in their own half for the greater part of the first half, and after 16 minutes Minehead went 2-0 up when a fierce shot from Damon Palfrey was deflected into his own net by Sean Maunder.

On the half hour Minehead lost skipper Andy Payne with a muscle injury, Nick Wyborn came on and with ten minutes remaining before the interval, he netted his first goal for Minehead when he headed home Nick Woon's high centre.

The first half ended with Minehead hanging onto their 3-0 advantage despite two Wellington free kicks going close to beating keeper Lee Ayres.

Wellington started the second half with spirit and they were rewarded after 55 minutes when, from a corner on the left flank, Christian Woon headed home.

Soon after, Wellington tried a speculative long-range lob which caught Ayres off his line but the ball dropped wide of the goal.

Almost immediately Christian Woon struck again with a smart header following another corner.

Minehead had a player booked soon afterwards, then on 61 minutes were reduced to ten men when David Burr was sent off for an obscure infringement.

Sensing the opportunity to take advantage of the situation, Wellington were spurred on by their supporters and Minehead raids gave way to the home pressure.

With ten minutes remaining Minehead still held a slender 3-2 lead, but a final flurry of goals saw the home team snatch a memorable victory.

Another header eluded the Minehead defence when second half Steve Jenkins headed home after 81 minutes, and four minutes later Wellington took the lead through a header from Paul Pocock.

Christian Woon headed his team further ahead after 87 minutes and it was at this late stage that Minehead's Shane Porter was red carded for a bad foul in front of the referee.

Wellington had not finished and in injury time they rubbed salt into Minehead's wound with goal number six, Simon Towler scoring from the penalty spot.

Minehead: Lee Ayres, David Burr, Andy Reader, Nick Stone, Steve Nicholls, Lee Porter, Andy Payne, Adrian Giblett, Nick Woon, Damon Palfrey, Shane Porter; sub, Nick Wyborn (used).