MINEHEAD went down to a 2-1 home defeat against Peasedown Miners Welfare, a side which led the first division in the Uhlsport Somerset County League after their previous weekend’s 5-0 demolition of Bishop Sutton.

Without their experienced captain and play-maker Stefan Phillips, the hosts found themselves two down after twenty minutes, after two very similar goals – both scored by Peasedown striker Theo Avis, who shot home after knock downs from corners in the 16th and 20th minutes, to add to the brace he scored on the previous Saturday.

The visitors had seen more of the ball in the first half, and had deserved their lead, but after the break the pressure was more intense on the visitors’ goal. Even though Minehead had lost their likeliest chance of a goal at half time when a groin strain meant centre forward Chris Barrett was replaced by substitute Sam Jackson, a more determined looking home side got themselves back in contention through a perfectly placed lob by Man of the Match Ollie Morris, on his home league debut for the first team, when his perfectly executed 25 yard lob sailed over the exposed keeper and nestled in the Queens Road onion bag seven minutes into the half.

The Blues now looked on top, with them seeing much more of the ball deep in the Peasedown half. Striker Guy Burns was brought on from the bench as along with another long serving player Andy Hall, as The Blues tried their best to get back on terms, but huff and puff as they did, an equaliser eluded them.

Minehead: Greg Turner, JJ Knight, Toby Morris, Louis Burge, Michael Nield, Will Singleton-Voss, Ollie Morris, Ollie Hall, Toby Waghorn, Chris Barrett, Olly PrescottSubs: Sam Jackson, Guy Burns, Andy Hall. Man of the Match: Olly Prescott.

Brian Walder