MINEHEAD’S hopes of pulling off a 21-day double over Portishead Town Reserves were dashed when they went down 2-0 away to the Somerset County League first division leaders in their latest match.

Having won 2-1 at home at the end of last month, Minehead were looking to maintain their improved form under new boss Lee Todd.

However, they slumped to their eighth loss of the season - and slipped one place to sixth in the table.

Todd said afterwards: “I thought we matched them throughout the game - there was nothing much to choose between the sides apart from, of course, the two goals.

“We had to make a change before the start when Matty Ronan said he felt unwell and we brought in Declan Green to play in midfield.

“We conceded a scrappy goal after only two minutes which was a bit of a shame. And they scored again early in the second half but the ‘goal’ should have been disallowed.

“On the whole I was pleased with our performance against a very good side who are top of the table.”

Minehead: Leader, Phillips (capt), JJ Knight, Burge, Jackson, Harvey-Lamar, Voss, Elston, Green, Burns, Waghorn. Substitutes: Prescott, Barnes, Ronan (used), Lovell (not used).

Portishead’s victory enabled them to go three points clear of second placed Peasedown Miners Welfare who were surprisingly beaten 3-0 away by Imperial who play at Minehead this coming Saturday. It was only the second loss of the season for Peasedown.

In the only other game played in the first division, Burnham United moved up to third in the table after winning 4-2 away to Glastonbury.

Fixtures for Saturday, December 20: Combe St Nicholas v Winscombe, Peasedown Miners Welfare v Portishead Town Reserves, Sporting Weston v Westfield, Wrington Redhill v Ashcott, Glastonbury v Keynsham Town Reserves, Minehead v Imperial.