MINEHEAD, fielding a weakened side, were beaten 3-1 away by lowly Keynsham Town Reserves in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League on Saturday, April 26.

Having made one of their longest away trips of the season to play their former Western League opponents’ Second XI, the Blues nearly fell a goal behind within the first minute, when captain Stefan Phillips’ uncharacteristic mistake with a wayward pass back to debutant goalkeeper Steven Arnold presented Keynsham’s centre forward Tom Morgan an opportunity to shoot towards an empty net. Miraculously Blues defender Louis Burge had been able to get back to block the striker’s shot before it could cross the line.

Sixteen minutes later the hosts, who had won only six of their previous league matches, did take the lead when an incisive break gave Joss Linden an opportunity to pick his spot from fifteen yards out to confidently open the scoring for the home side.

Moments later Minehead were almost back on terms when Will Singleton-Voss leapt high to meet a dangerous trade mark corner from Sam Jackson, but his header was inches wide. Five minutes later The Blues were deservedly back on terms when Jackson latched onto a perfect pass from Matt Trump to rifle home inside the post.

Five minutes from the break, having enjoyed a good spell, Guy Burns found Jackson whose goal-bound volley was pushed around the post by the keeper. Then disaster struck on the verge of half time when Minehead’s defence stepped up expecting an offside flag which never came, and Lynden ran through unopposed to score his second goal.

Early in the second half home captain Kyle Box doubled the hosts’ advantage at 3-1, when he gave Arnold little chance with a well struck shot.

Though Minehead continued competing in a game that based on play was fairly even, real goalscoring opportunities failed to materialise and neither side added to the goals tally.

Minehead: Steven Arnold, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Charlie Disney, Louis Burge, Luke Wilson, Stefan Phillips, Sam Jackson, Will Singleton-Voss, Toby Waghorn, Guy Burns, Matt TrumpSubs: Scott Kivell, Jack Campbell-Farmer (Both Used). Man of the Match: Matt Trump.

Meanwhile, the Blues remain on the road this coming weekend with their last two away trips of the season, the results of which will have a strong bearing on which one of their final two opponents will be relegated.

Firstly, on Saturday, May 3, a trip to the east of the county to Ashcott, who are currently attempting a miraculous Houdini Act. Whereas three weeks ago they looked absolutely “dead and buried” they have since put together a run of four wins in a row and now have a fighting chance to avoid the drop. Ashcott are currently on level points with the only side they can mathematically catch (Keynsham Town Reserves). Their game against Minehead is Ashcott’s final game of the season.

Secondly, Minehead have a trip to the north of the county to play Clutton on Bank Holiday Monday. As it stands, Clutton are two points above Minehead, with The Blues having a game in hand. The Saturday afterwards (10th May) Minehead’s final game of the season pitches them against Keynsham Town Reserves, who may by that stage, need all three points to be above Ashcott to remain in Division One.

Brian Walder