MINEHEAD Under 14s let victory get away from them as they lost 5-4 against Rhode Lane at home at Allerford on Sunday.

With only ten players available, they had to set up in a different formation with George Barnfield operating in midfield, but they started on the front foot with the wind assisting them, and Shahid Abraham went close to scoring in the first couple of minutes.

Rhode Lane got into their stride and for the next five minutes Minehead were unable to get out of their own half, with keeper Alfie Durman producing a couple of good saves.

Minehead then opened the scoring after a good move enabled Abraham to slot the ball past the stranded keeper.

But Rhode Lane were soon back on level terms when a well-struck shot flew past Oliver Heathfield and went through Durman’s legs.

Minehead then dominated possession for the next five minutes and regained the lead when Zeb Toogood made a good run and crossed for Abraham to smash the ball high into the net and make it 2-1.

It was all Minehead now, and confusion in the Rhode Lane defence resulted in a back pass being picked up by the keeper and a free-kick being awarded, but Minehead were unable to take advantage.

Rhode Lane still provided a threat and only some good defending by Josh Bulpin and more good saves by Durman kept Minehead ahead.

Their lead was extended to 3-1 when Abraham completed his hat-trick, rifling home a shot from the edge of the area which the keeper couldn’t keep out despite getting a touch on it.

Thomas Feast then hit the side-netting before a slight mix up between Ethan Plenty in defence and Durman saw a back-pass find its way into the net, leaving Minehead 3-2 up at half-time.

In the second half they were battling against a stiff wind and changed their approach by keeping their passing on the ground, and the tactic soon paid off when Abraham scored his fourth goal to make it 4-2.

The young Blues now started to come under sustained pressure as Rhode Lane were helped by the wind, and the deficit was cut to a single goal again when a corner was bundled over the line.

Durman and Minehead’s defence, in particular Bulpin, were called into action time and again with the midfield and strikers unable to keep hold of the ball.

But Minehead still had chances of their own, although they were unable to capitalise on some good approach play and towards the end of the game were made to pay for the missed opportunities.

Rhode Lane drew level at 4-4 following a corner which wasn’t cleared properly, then with time running out and Minehead hanging on for a draw, the visitors snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when the ball somehow found its way into the net to make the final score 5-4.

Minehead will look back on the game as one which got away from them but will hopefully take on board some learning in that the different formation they tried didn’t work on the day.

Man of the match was Josh Bulpin, who cleared up most of the danger from Rhode Lane’s right wing.

Minehead U14s: Alfie Durman, Ethan Plenty, Josh Bulpin, Rio Howard, George Barnfield, Zeb Toogood, Thomas Feast, Oliver Heathfield, Shahid Abraham, Briony Smith.