MINEHEAD kicked off the new season in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League with a 2-0 away victory over Winscombe, a resurgent club who had won back-to-back promotions in 23/24 and 24/25.

Winscombe, playing in blue meaning that Minehead donned their change kit of yellow, certainly made a livelier start to the match, and strong running striker Dylan Whittle caused Minehead some problems from the outset. After 15 minutes Minehead looked to have settled down, and the next quarter of an hour saw them gaining far more of the ball and taking the game to their hosts for this second section of the first half.

Lee Smyth made the first serious attempt on goal with a well struck shot from outside of the box, then with Minehead continuing to turn the home defenders and a lively Olly Prescott saw his effort, again from outside of the box, pushed over the bar acrobatically by Regan D’arcy, who was now the busier of the two custodians.

Much of the probing by Minehead was coming from their influential captain Stefan Phillips, who was noticeably involved in many of his side’s moves, turning defence into attack as Minehead started to get on top. In contrast to the first two15-minute spells, from around the half hour mark the game seemed to the become quite end to end, with the final attempt of the half coming from Ollie Prescott, who after beating three defenders saw his fierce shot hit the bar and go over for a goal kick, though it did appear that keeper had managed to push the shot onto the bar.

The final actions of the hal saw Prescott’s shot saved by the home keeper, followed by another shot from Prescott which went a foot over the bar with D’arcy this time looking well-beaten.

The start of the second 45 showed Minehead enjoying a productive period playing down the slope. Olly Morris, making his county League debut for the club (along with keeper Greg Turner) had a good opportunity in front of goal, and in the 67th minute Minehead took a deserved lead through the tireless running of Toby Waghorn who was a thorn in Winscombe’s side.

The Minehead break-through finally came after 67 minutes, when Bertie Harvey-Larmar played a perfect through ball to Waghorn, and the fleet-footed striker sped past the defence and slammed home to open this season’s account.

With twelve minutes remaining Olly Prescott saw his powerful shot parried by the keeper, but Ollie Hall was quickest to react and fired the rebound home to secure all three points for Minehead.

Minehead: Greg Turner, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Toby Morris, Louis Burge, Stefan Phillips, Will Singleton-Voss, Lee Smyth, Ollie Morris, Toby Waghorn, Ollie Hall, Olly Prescott. Subs: James Knight, Sam Jackson, Guy Burns, Felix Faun.

The Blues have their first home game of the County League season on Saturday when they entertain Peasedown Miners Welfare at Irnham Road, kicking off at 3pm.

The Miners Welfare club’s history against Minehead dates back well over 100 years with them first competing against each other in the final of the Somerset Chairty Cup (at Yeovil’s Pen Mill Athletic Ground) where a 0-0 draw meant a replay at Weston was needed. Minehead won the second game by 4 goals to nil.

BRIAN WALDER