MINEHEAD kick-off their season in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League with a tough away match against newly-promoted Winscombe on Saturday, August 9.

Winscombe lost only three three matches last season in winning the championship in the second division and will undoubtedly be looking to maintain their fine form.

Minehead completed their build-up to the new season with a 2-1 home victory over local rivals Alcombe Rovers in a hastily arranged friendly on Saturday after Wellington cried off the previous day.

"I'm told Wellington couldn't raise a side," said Minehead boss Craig Carr. "I included several players in the side against Alcombe who would probably not normally have got a game.

"It was a good workout and I thought we looked comfortable."

Carr was hoping to complete the signing of a couple of new players before the game against Winscombe and the team will include new goalkeeper Greg Turner, who has played first team football for Middlezoy Rovers.

He added: "Greg will be available on a regular basis and hopefully we'll have solved our goalkeeping problem. We were having to find a new goalkeeper for almost every match towards the end of last season.

"I have been happy with the way things have gone in pre-season. We know it will be a difficult match at Winscombe, but I'm confident we will take our pre-season form into the game.”

Minehead finished a disappointing 12th in the first division last season. They made a bright start but fell away after Christmas. They won only ten of their 30 league matches and drew seven.

First division fixtures for Saturday, August 9: Ashcott v Wrington Redhill, Glastonbury v Clutton, Imperial v Combe St Nicholas, Keynsham Town Reserves v Burnham United, Peasedown Miners Welfare v Bishop Sutton, Westfield v Portishead Town Reserves, Winscombe v Minehead.