MINEHEAD’S poor form towards the end of the season continued when they slumped to a 4-0 away defeat against Ashcott in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League

Desperate for all three points to take them out of a relegation position for the very first time this season, Ashcott continued their goalscoring spree which now amounts to seventeen goals in their final four games of the season, to comfortably win the game, and keep their season alive.

However, with Ashcott having now played all of their games, Keynsham Town Reserves (who Ashcott have now leap-frogged in the table) will go back above them and to safety themselves when they play at Minehead, if they record any sort of win over The Blues.

Apart from Ashcott creating a half chance in the first few moments, which came to nothing, Minehead seemed the most likely to score during the opening quarter of an hour, having enjoyed the better of the play. But with Minehead having failed to take any of their chances, the hosts nearly stole into a lead when one of their two dangermen, Ollie Luce, side footed a volley over the bar, when a cross from the left found him unmarked at the far post; Blues keeper Steven Arnold, having already committed to a dive the other way, to block the shot.

Keeping the pressure on, up the end-to-end sloping pitch, another better-than-half chance was headed over the crossbar. Shortly afterwards however, Rufeo Taylor, the hosts’ other in form goal-scorer, put is side ahead when an opportunity fell in his lap, beating Arnold at the far post to open the scoring.

Early in the second half the impressive striker then doubled his personal tally with a header. Trying to get back in contention, Toby Waghorn fed Matt Trump an accurate centre, but his attempt on goal was too high. Trump was in action again a few moments later, and having cleverly beaten two defenders, his shot was wide.

Belying their position in the table Ashcott continued to press, and after Minehead introduced substitutes in the form of Scott Kivell, Jack Campbell-Farmer and Oli Reaney, Stefan Phillips saw his free kick curl just over.

A few minutes later Luce scored from a similar, but slightly lower free kick curler. With the game now slipping away from them Minehead became more ragged, and they fell four behind when they seemed to have effectively played a high line catch the hosts offside, but the call was strangely ignored by the referee and Luce ran through to complete his hat-trick, scoring the final goal of the game.

Minehead: Steven Arnold, Luke Wilson, Charlie Disney, Louis Burge, George Painter, Sam Jackson, Stefan Phillips, Will Singleton-Voss, Toby Waghorn, Guy Burns, Matt Trump. Subs: Scott Kivell, Jack Campbell-Farmer, Oli Reaney (all used). Man of the Match: Luke Wilson.

Elsewhere, new champions Congresbury dropped two surprise points when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Keynsham Town Reserves. It was only the sixth time this season that Congresbury had failed to win a game, this being their fifth draw of the season - with only one game lost.

Stockwood Green maintained second place after they gained a convincing 4-0 away victory over Middlezoy Rovers Reserves. It meant the Green needed only a point from their last match to make sure of the runners-up spot.