A FULL-blooded mid-table clash ended with a share of the spoils for Minehead as they came away from Winscombe with a 2-2 draw.

The match in Division One West of the Somerset County League kept supporters of both sides on the edge of their seats until virtually the last kick of the game, with the home side rescuing a deserved point in the final minute of added time.

The first shot on goal came from the Blues when an edge of the box effort by Harry Scatchard was parried by home keeper and captain Tim Page.

After an even first quarter, Winscombe took the lead when a deep corner found full back Ben Hooper in plenty of space at the far post and his firm well-placed header was too good for Sam Tarr in the Minehead goal.

Minehead went close to equalising a few minutes later when, after a foul ended a menacing run by Scatchard, Stefan Phillips’ free-kick was pushed onto the post and the resulting corner was cleared.

Tarr made a superb point-blank save from another Hooper header later in the half as Winscombe threatened, but it was soon the turn of the home custodian Page when a marauding run by Matt Cracknell ended with a fierce right-footed effort which was acrobatically punched away for a corner.

In the second half, with play remaining fairly even, Minehead turned the game on its head with a brace of well-executed counter attacking goals.

The first, the pick of the two, saw them burst up the slope and a perfect final ball from Max Smith was taken in his stride by lively striker Damion Redman and he finished expertly from the edge of the box.

Five minutes later, Redman returned the favour by supplying the cross for Smith to put the visitors into the lead with ten minutes remaining.

Minehead, whose goal had seen plenty of action in the second half, with Mike Mullen clearing off the line twice, pushed again with a few minutes remaining and after a late challenge on the keeper by Redma,n the striker was shown a red card and the keeper a yellow for his retaliation.

Winscombe then rescued their deserved point in the sixth and final minute of injury time when Michael Flint’s shot was deflected Sam Tarr, leaving both clubs in mid-table with identical records.

Minehead: Sam Tarr, Chris Newbold, Andy Gubb, Mike Mullen, Matt Cracknell, Stefan Phillips, Matty Ronan, Harry Scatchard, Damion Redman, Mike Graddon, Max Smith, subs Steve Lynch, Callum Barnfield (used).

l The Blues take a break from league action this weekend with a long trip to Peasedown Miners Welfare for a Somerset Senior Cup 2nd Round tie.

The clubs last met in January 1957 when they were both competing in the Western League 2nd Division.