MINEHEAD have been knocked out of the Somerset Senior Cup after losing 3-1 at home to Premier Division side Hengrove Athletic in the second round, writes Brian Walder.

Facing higher league opposition Minehead started well and deserved to take the lead after 15 minutes, when Olly Prescott shot home past Hengrove’s keeper Tom Lewis - and the lead was still in their favour at the break.

However, they lost one of their central defenders during injury time added to the first half, when JJ Knight was dismissed for a second yellow, which was viewed as harsh by several home supporters, but going down to ten men for the remaining 45 minutes made it very much an uphill task.

At the start of the second half Hengrove brought on substitute Louis Davies, and within five minutes their top scorer Joe Parsons had put them in front from a corner.

A good move, instigated in the main by Olly Prescott, enabled Toby Waghorn to beat a defender and then race clear of Hengrove’s chasing defenders, but his shot was blocked by keeper Tom Lewis.

Hengrove took the lead in the 50th minute through Louie Davies, a substitute who had only come on at the start of the second half and their top scorer Joe Parsons put the writing on the wall ten minutes later from a corner, after a similar ‘goal’ from a corner had been disallowed a few moments earlier.

Minehead rallied hard, with Waghorn’s pace and harassment giving the Bristol side some anxious moments, and captain Mike Graddon marshalled his side well, however, a late tackle did cause him a problem until he had run it off.

Louis Burge pushed forward from the defence frequently throughout the second 45, leaving just three in the rearguard on occasions.

On another breakaway by Waghorn, the stocky keeper Lewis came out to the very edge of his box and collided with the diminutive striker, which left him flat out on the floor needing attention, but the official rebutted Minehead’s claims for a free kick and the game was restarted with Minehead required to take a throw-in back to the goalkeeper.

The Blues kept chasing the equaliser but in the 81st minute Carl Basana made the game safe at 3-1, and their strength and resolve managed to get them through to the third round, with the other fifteen remaining sides.

Minehead’s bench was not as well stocked as Hengrove’s who managed to introduce five substitutes during the second half. Michael Nield and team coach Lee Hardick were introduced for Minehead.

Being without last week’s hat-trick hero Cam Thompson didn’t help Minehead’s cause, but Waghorn’s pace looked a threat to Hengrove’s defence throughout, and so like many other sides who are knocked out of the cup, Minehead are now left to concentrate on their league position. The visitors knew they had been in a contest, particularly in the second half, and were noticeably pleased to hear the final whistle.

Minehead: Carl Paige, Harvey Lovell, Mike Graddon, James Knight, Louis Burge, Will Singleton-Voss, Olly Prescott, Lewis Smith, Sam Jackson, Adam Jeffries, Toby Waghorn Substitutes: Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Michael Nield, Lee Hardick, (all used). Man of the Match: Olly Prescott

Minehead currently have no match scheduled for Saturday, November 14,, but Minehead Reserves kick off at 2pm, against AFC Wagtail, in the Somerset Junior Cup, and would welcome support.