MINEHEAD maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a 3-1 away win over Highburn Athletic Ladies in Division Three South of the Somerset Women’s Football League.

From the off, Minehead demonstrated superiority with quick, fluent passing, which created early openings for Mabel, Jaz, Kayleigh, and Emeral but with no reward.

Highburn became more compact and took a no-nonsense approach, clearing their lines at every opportunity. This proved a different test for the Blues who were finding space on a tight pitch proving tricky. However, up-stepped the inform, dynamic Courtney to fire the Blues into a 1-0 lead!

The goal came from clever footwork from Jaz on the left, who found Courtney 20 yards from goal. The midfielder opened up and struck low and hard into the far bottom corner.

The pattern of the game was now set, Highburn playing long balls deep into Minehead’s half with skipper Erin, playing in an unfamiliar CB position, dealing with absolutely everything that was put her way. Erin was running the game from the back and in typical fashion, seized the moment to beat five Highburn players from deep to make it 2-0.

It might have looked as though the game was only going one way, but the vastly experienced Highburn squad persevered, and hounded the Blues, resulting in a very scrappy remainder of the half.

The second half kicked off with Minehead producing a high frequency of chances, with Evie producing a fine save, Emeral shooting just over, and Lilly unfortunate not to score after picking up a good position on the edge of the box. Chances kept coming, but there was a growing sense that Highburn and their dogged approach may prove fruitful if they could keep Minehead at bay.

The pattern of play was firmly established now, with the rotating backline of Honey, Erin, Kianna, Alana, and Darcy doing some incredible work as a defensive unit. Ball after ball was being looped into the Minehead half, with brave headers, clever sweeping and quick collections from keeper Maddison frustrating the hosts.

The next score was going to be all important and fortunately for the Blues, it was seasiders who got the third goal of the game and sealed victory! Among a scrappy passage of play, the ball fell kindly to the debutant Kayleigh, who lashed a shot low and hard, which left the keeper with no time to react.

Elation for the Blues as a team joined Kayleigh in her celebrations, as with 15 minutes to play, it seemingly meant Minehead had picked up a vital three points.

As the game entered its final stages, it fell slightly flat. This didn’t deter Highburn, though, as they kept pushing for a route back into the game. They never found this early enough but did earn themselves a consolation goal at the death from a corner, which was tapped in from close range.

The whistle sounded soon after to conclude a fine away day for Minehead. A tough, tough battle that made the three points on the day and in the context of their season truly rewarding as they move into top spot for the first time this season. The player of the match was Erin Strong.

Next up is a trip to second from bottom Crewkerne for a repeat of the opening day fixture.