MINEHEAD Under 18s bounced back from defeat at Burnham with their best performance of the season as they beat Priory Pumas 5-1 at home on Sunday.
The win lifted them back up to second in the South Division of the Somerset U18 League.
Missing Samir Abraham and with Rob Vickers on the bench through injury, they started strongly with some good flowing football and took the lead in only the third minute when Callum Barnfield and Sam Bruford combined to set Olly Jones up and his fierce shot gave the keeper no chance.
A new-looking midfield of Josh Heath, Dan Vickers, Branden Simsek and Olly Jones were threatening at all times and Bruford looked to be enjoying having a partner up front in Barnfield.
On 23 minutes, the lively Barnfield was taken out by the Priory keeper, who was lucky to only receive a yellow card, and iIn the absence of usual penalty taker Vickers, Simsek stepped up and slotted the ball home confidently.
Priory pulled a goal back when a rare excursion to the Minehead half led to a corner and poor marking allowed a firm header to beat the excellent Michael Langton in goal.
There was still time before the break for Minehead to restore their two-goal advantage when pressure on the Priory defence allowed Barnfield to score his second of the season.
After the break, Minehead’s defensive unit of Jake Hill, Harvey Jones, Tristan Hawkins and Josh Hanson - returning after 18 months out - rarely looked in trouble and were able to add to the attacking force, while substitutes Jack Evans and Toby Waghorn provided fresh legs and keep the momentum going.
Vickers also came on for 20 minutes and added to his tally with his fourth goal of the season from a strong left-foot shot from the edge of the box.
With six minutes left, Waghorn score the fifth goal to complete a good day for the young Blues.
Man of the match was Harvey Jones.
Minehead U18s: Michael Langton, Jake Hill, Tristan Hawkins, Josh Hanson, Harvey Jones, Branden Simsek, Dan Vickers, Josh Heath, Olly Jones, Callum Barnfield, Sam Bruford, subs Jack Evans, Toby Waghorn, Rob Vickers (all used).