LEE Todd made a winning start to his new job as manager of Minehead with a 3-0 away victory over struggling Glastonbury in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League.

The game started with both clubs looking lively but with Minehead enjoying slightly more of the possession and looking potentially the most likely side to score.

From an early corner JJ Knight saw his close range header from a corner blocked by the arm of home keeper Joe Beaverstock, who appeared to know very little about it.

After about half an hour, with Minehead looking perhaps the likeliest to score, centre forward Toby Waghorn was booked for the first time in his career, when it was alleged that he left a foot up when Beaverstock chased out of his goal to reach a through ball a split second before after Waghorn, the league’s top scorer, could get to it.

Some referees would have seen the incident as a foul by Beaverstock, but this official saw the incident as a foul by the in-form Waghorn and having received treatment the player got to his feet and the official proceeded to contentiously book the unfortunate centre-forward.

Ten minutes later, having continued to hound the home defence, it was Waghorn’s running which resulted in the Beaverstock being deemed as the aggressor, and on this occasion the referee pointed to the twelve-yard spot. Ronan scored expertly from the penalty spot to give Minehead a goal advantage at the break.

Glastonbury’s reaction was to be seen as some good attacks, generally on the left flank, where their pacey winger Isaac Nobely was started to cause the Minehead defence some problems, but the back four were largely in control of the attacks.

The second half started with Glastonbury playing towards the Tor end, and their solid left back Arron Allen, who having displayed little mercy for the diminutive Waghorn, was booked early in the half for a cynical challenge which had upended the striker.

Glastonbury’s Allen was then fortunate to only see a yellow card for a rash, lunging challenge which completely upended the lively striker.

Guy Burns then came off the bench to replace Ollie Prescott, and shortly afterwards a relatively rare headed goal from Waghorn put the Blues further ahead. Another header followed from Waghorn, who was becoming a serious thorn in the Glastonbury defence.

Ronan was then booked for retaliating after having been the victim of a late, lunging challenge, and within a few minutes needed to be replaced by Declan Green.

Waghorn then saw an effort come back off the crossbar, and Will Singleton-Voss was shown a yellow card with the official showing very little consideration for the slippery conditions, and continuing to attack Waghorn had another superb effort come back off the crossbar.

With less than twenty minutes remaining Minehead deservelyd edged further ahead when Sam Jackson’s well-placed shot went in off the post, which realistically finished the game as a contest, but the tireless Waghorn continued to torment The Dollies defence and it was surprising that the rampant visitors failed to add more goals to their tally.

Minehead: Greg Turner, Fin Haran, Toby Morris, Louis Burge, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Will Singleton-Voss, Sam Jackson, Toby Waghorn, Olly Prescott, Matty Ronan Subs: Declan Green, Guy Burns, Harvey Henderson (All Used) Stefan Phillips. Man of the Match: JJ Knight.

Brian Walder