MINEHEAD kicked off their Division One West campaign in the Somerset County League with a 2-1 win at home to newly-promoted Weston-super-Mare based Uphill Castle.

It was Uphill’s first-ever visit to Irnham Road, and the result extended the Blues’ string of 2-1 wins so far this season.

After an even first ten minutes, the home side started playing the more creative football, with the visitors appearing to be concentrating on keeping Minehead’s attack at bay rather than making in-roads towards their rearguard.

Even so, it was Uphill who had the first real attempt on goal, when Dan Thomas’ lob caused Sam Tarr to retreat quickly and, whilst the keeper might just have got back to his line in time, he was relieved to see the ball bounce on top of the bar and to safety.

Later in the half, a deep cross from Minehead’s Harry Scatchard expertly found central defender Chris Newbold, but his delicate header back across the goal also fell onto the top of the goal frame, with visiting keeper Luke Bryant at full stretch.

The half ended with Minehead looking the more accomplished footballing side, but with nothing to show for their efforts, largely due to a lack of incision in the penalty box.

The second half continued with the Blues enjoying more of the attacking, but after a volley from centre forward Max Smith went just wide, their failure to score was compounded by the visitors’ dangerman Thomas breaking away from home defenders who were looking hopefully to the line for an offside flag, and competently lobbing Tarr from 25 yards to give his side an unlikely lead.

Several more home attacks brought no reward, including a trademark run by Guy Burns which took him past numerous defenders before he squared the ball from near the byeline and Smith’s side-footed attempt was kept out by Bryant.

With less than ten minutes remaining, the equaliser finally came when Newbold reacted quickest to a parried save by Bryant and prodded home from just inside the six-yard box.

The relief was apparent on the home side’s faces, but that turned to euphoria when a wave of attacks ended with a goalbound header from captain Mike Mullen being nodded home near the goal-line by Burns to earn the Blues all three points.

The Gerry Hat-Trick Man of the Match was Matt Cracknell.

Minehead: Sam Tarr, Mike Mullen, Luke Bloys, Chris Newbold, Matt Cracknell, Matty Ronan, Harry Scatchard, Luke Howells, Max Smith, Stefan Phillips, Guy Burns, subs Tom Edworthy, Callum Barnfield (both used), Stephen Lynch.

l Having turned the game around against such a competent and much fancied side, Minehead face another home game tomorrow (Saturday) against Street Reserves, who they beat twice last season. Kick-off at the Recreation Ground is at 3pm.

l Minehead Reserves and Butlin’s, who will face each other in Division Three of the Taunton Saturday League this season, drew 1-1 in a friendly.

With the league reduced from five to four divisions, the Blues escaped relegation despite finishing bottom of Division Three, while Butlin’s were promoted after finishing seond in Division Five.

With good numbers of both young and experience players, the Blues are hoping for a better season, and had earlier beaten Porlock Reserves 5-0 in a friendly.

Both they and Butlin’s had virtually enough players to have fielded two sides, and the match was an opportunity for both to take a good look at their squads.

Pressure from Minehead was rewarded after 20 minutes when Charlie Thomas went up for corner and notched his second goal of the season, and it remained 1-0 at half-time.

The game went to and fro after the break, and it wasn’t until a minute from tim that Butlin’s netted their equaliser.

Both sides were encouraged by what they saw and should go into the season with some optimism.

Minehead Res: Nat Leader, Andy Pope, Sean Meade, Charlie Thomas, Lowell Binnie, Steve Hill, Karl Boswell, Connor Jones, Daniel Vickers, Robert Vickers, Aiden Buller, Brad Martin, Toby Morris, Paul Matcham, Luke Gueiss, Kieran Bailey, Will Patterson, Brandon Jones, Robbie Lockyer.