MINEHEAD are out of the Uhlsport Premier & First Division KO Cup after losing 2-0 away to Wrington Redhill in the opening round.

Though Minehead seemed lively from the start and in the opening exchanges took the game up the hill towards their host’s goal, they were soon thankful to their experienced keeper Greg Turner. Firstly, coming to the rescue with a close range save when Wrington top scorer Harrison Campbell tested him from fifteen yards, closely followed by two superb reactionary point blank saves in quick succession to thwart both Harrison and then a team-mate.

Minehead’s response came from a well struck thirty-yarder by Olly Morris, which was pushed around the post by the alert custodian Rob Hannah.

With experienced players Stefan Phillips and Guy Burns missing, The Blues were glad to welcome back from injury their teenage central defender Louis Burge, and with the experienced Andy Hall once again slotting into an unfamiliar defensive position, Minehead coped well with anything that Wrington threw at them, which included a succession of corners towards the end of the half.

The start of the second half saw two more close shaves when crosses across the face of Minehead’s goal were not capitalized upon by home forwards.

But Minehead were far from being over-run, and a well struck Ollie Prescott shot from twenty-five yards took a deflection off a defender, giving keeper Rob Hannah the opportunity to save what had looked a certain goal, from just under the crossbar. Industrious Blues midfielder Will Singleton-Voss, playing as a makeshift full back on the day, then had another shot on target that Hannah was also able to deal with.

With Minehead enjoying their best spell of the match, and now looking the most likely to score, midway through the half Turner chased out of his goal along the touchline attempting to collect a wayward shot, but midway between the goal post and the corner flag his attempt to clear the ball was blocked by opposing centre forward Jack Hutchings, and with the ball then falling kindly for the striker he slammed it into towards the goal where a team-mate was able to force it home.

Minehead rallied and a 30-yard effort from Prescott was saved by Hannah just under the crossbar. Blues manager Craig Carr brought on fresh legs in Jack Campbell-Farmer for Sam Jackson, but a second goal for the hosts came courtesy of an expertly executed volley at the far post by Hutchings from a long-range free kick taken in their own half, which gave Turner no chance.

Carr changed things again with more young legs coming off the bench in Scott Kivell and Ollie Reaney to get important game time

Two nil probably flattered the hosts, as Minehead worked hard and had their moments, but it was Wrington who venture on to the next round of the County League Knock Out cup.

Minehead: Greg Turner, Will Singleton-Voss, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Louis Burge, Toby Morris, Andy Hall, Ollie Morris, Sam Jackson, Toby Waghorn, Fin Harran, Olly Prescott Subs: Scott Kivell, Ollie Reaney, Luke Bloys (all used). Man of the Match: Andy Hall.

In other ties, Taunton side Staplegrove gained a fine 3-2 away win over Burnham United while Portishead Town Reserves won 3-0 away to Stockwood Wanderers.