MINEHEAD AFC put in a strong pre-season performance as they were able to beat higher league opposition in the form of Staplegrove 2-0.

In the first minute a shot from Fin Harran almost gave them an early lead, and a few moments later the same player saw his side-footed effort beat former Minehead keeper Shaun Locke but went a foot or so the wrong side of the far post.

Keeping the pressure on the Staplegrove goal, Lock made a fine save to push a Will Singleton-Voss shot around the post for a corner, but from the first of a series of dangerous, perfectly placed in-swinging corners from George Sinnott, it was Ollie Morris who opened the scoring soon afterwards when his effort went in off a defender.

The Blues doubled their advantage before the break, when Morris was on hand again to force home from another masterful corner by Sinnott, with the ball this time glancing in off Singleton-Voss on near the goal-line.

Michael Nield put himself in the frame for a place in the first team squad with a good performance, as did substitute Dan Vickers, and the squad is now looking stronger than it has at this stage of the season for some time, with the biggest potential problem is who to leave out of the starting line-up rather than who can be found to fill any available places.

Goalkeeper Greg Turner also impressed again, with several particularly competent saves.

The man of the match award was given to Michael Nield.

The Blues have three more home games throughout pre season, one against Uphill Castle on Saturday July 26 at 1pm, followed by Bishops Lydeard on Wednesday July 30 (7:30pm) and finally versus Wellington again at The Rec on Saturday August 2 at 3pm.

The season then kicks off with a trip to Winscombe on August 9.