MINEHEAD went down to their first home defeat of the season in Division One of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League when they were beaten 2-0 by Wrington Redhill, writes Brian Walder. The visitors gave a workmanlike performance, and netted a goal in each half. In the opening half an hour it was Minehead who created the two most promising openings – firstly a nonchalantly executed lofted left footed lob from 25 yards by centre forward Cam Thompson deceived Wrington keeper Rob Hannam, but the looping effort dropped just the wrong side of the crossbar and nestled on the top of the net.

Shortly afterwards, influential Minehead player Mike Graddon’s free header, after having ghosted in at the far post, went just the wide of the post.

In the 44th minute of a relatively even first half, from both possession and controlling the game aspects, Wrington edged ahead. Minehead keeper Carl Paige raced out of his goal to attempt to beat the approaching Jack Hutchings to the ball. It looked like he was going to just get there first, however on realising he had just reached the edge of his penalty area, he withdrew his outstretched arm to avoid a possible red card, and the striker was able to slide the ball home into the empty net to give his side the lead.

A few minutes after half time, Minehead manager Lee Todd introduced Nathan Collins and Declan Green from the bench, and the switch seemed to add impetus with Minehead pushing forward with more purpose and enjoying more possession. However they were soon punished by a second goal from Wrington, when Cody Parslow managed to slide the ball home from a narrow angle to double their advantage.

Soon afterwards more fresh legs were introduced in Luke Badcock and Olly Prescott as the Blues went for broke with more players pushing forward. Toby Waghorn did manage to get the ball into the net, but a hotly debated linesman’s flag ruled out the “goal” for offside.

Wrington were still active with their own attacks, one being thwarted by a well-executed save from Paige, with the keeper somehow managing to hang in the air long enough to catch a header that had taken a deflection, from just under the crossbar.

Todd’s final substitution saw striker Adam Jeffries come on for midfielder Will Singleton-Voss with fifteen minutes left to play. Then a free kick taken by Lewis from approaching 30 yards out did not dip quite enough to sneak under the bar, and went what looked like less than a foot over the goal frame.

Late in the game, with The Blues’ anguish running high, Minehead were awarded a free kick near the half way line, which Declan Green wanted to take quickly. With his opponent deliberately standing over the ball, stopping the kick from being taken, Green was booked for impetuously kicking the ball against his opponents’ legs.

Minehead: Carl Paige, James Knight, Louis Burge, Mike Graddon, Cullen Bruford, Lewis Smith, Toby Morris, Sam Jackson, Cam Thompson, Will Singleton-Voss, Toby Waghorn. Subs: Olly Prescott, Adam Jeffries, Declan Green, Nathan Collins, Luke Badcock (all used). Minehead Man of the Match: Mike Graddon This coming Saturday’s County League match sees The Blues travelling to Imperial’s impressive home in South Bristol.