MINEHEAD Reserves’ hopes of completing the season’s double at home to bottom side Norton Fitzwarren were dashed when they were held to a 2-2 home draw in the first division of the Taunton & District Saturday League.

Missing four regular starters they should still have had enough but were on the back foot within five minutes when a simple defensive error on a bobbly pitch gifted Norton the lead.

However Minehead got back into the game straight away with some positive play through the midfield of Bart Kubaczewski, Oli Reaney and Dan Vickers with wing backs Oli Jones and Finn Landon causing troubles down the flanks. With Haiden Griffiths being given opportunities to run at Norton’s back line Minehead looked very threatening but it was following good work by his strike partner Riley Pope that Pope was brought down in the box and Dan Vickers stepped up and cooly slotted home for his eighth goal of the season.

Minehead now in total control looked like the only team to win the game and defenders Lyam Scheepers, Rob Vickers and Andy Gubb dealt with everything that came their way. With almost the last kick of the half a long kick from keeper Nat Leader reached Griffiths who with work still to do put Minehead in front.

The second half started evenly but following a Norton corner Minehead failed to clear and a toe poke from Norton saw the scores level. The second half was somewhat under-whelming but Minehead had chances to take the three points but rarely tested the keeper sufficiently.

It was a game of two defensive mistakes and not taking chances and generally speaking that combination won’t win football matches.

Minehead, with players missing again this coming weekend, will have to step up their game to get a different result from lowly Middlezoy Athletic. Man of the match: Haiden Griffiths.