MINEHEAD Under 16s finished their football journey in the Taunton & District Youth League on Sunday when they played their final match together as a team.

They went out in style with an excellent 7-1 away win against a very physical Wembdon team. Minehead were on the front foot from kick off and looked hungry to go out in style. After 4 minutes, a through by Costello, playing outfield for the first half, was inch perfect to the energetic Bruford who was too strong for the Wembdon defence; he went one on one with the keeper, and calmly slotted the ball home through the keeper’s legs to give Minehead the perfect start Minehead took control and 15 minutes later almost doubled the lead after a cross from Griffiths found Bruford in the box. Unfortunately the cross was just behind him and his header went just wide despite a good effort leaning back to make the header.

Two minutes later a Griffiths corner once again found the head of Bruford who headed the ball back to Payton, whose shot was excellently saved by the keeper.

On 28 minutes, right back Landon played a good ball to Payton who was on the edge of box, and he made no mistake by curling his shot into the far corner to make it 2 0.

After 39 minutes, Minehead were awarded A free kick 30 yards out, Laney stepped up and rifled the ball into the top corner giving the keeper no chance, making it 3-0. A minute later, Costello was brought down in the box by a defender and a penalty was awarded. Costello, who normally plays in goal, stepped and slotted the ball home to make it 4-0.

Wembdon had some attacks in the first half, but the ever reliable Campbell-Farmer and Binding, backed up by Landon and Taylor, were more than a match for them. Schweepers in goal was in control and never looked uncomfortable for the balls that did get past the defence. Wembdon started the second half brightly and got one back shortly into the half. However their celebrations were short lived. Laney, being supported well by Bellamy and Mitchell, was brought down outside of the box, and this time is was Mitchell who hit a strong free kick past the wall and flapping keeper to make it 5-1 to Minehead. Minehead pressed quickly after the restart and won the ball; a good run from Laney and a pass back to Bellamy looked to going nowhere until Bellamy lobbed a defender and keeper from 20 yards to score a great goal By this stage, Wembdon seemed more intent on kicking the team in blue than the ball, which led to another free kick 40 yards from goal. Centre half Binding stood over the ball, and with everyone expecting a ball into the box, he saw the keeper off centre of his goal, and hit a screamer into the top corner to make it 7-1.

Bruford went off injured for a short time following the goal after a Wembdon player tackled him with studs showing that should have resulted in a red card. The game got very physical for a while but the Minehead lads stood strong and kept their heads. Seven goals with seven different scorers was the perfect finish and hopefully a lot of this team will now move on to the Minehead senior teams and help the club progress in the future. Team: Schweepers, Landon, Binding, Taylor, Campbell-Farmer, Payton, Laney, Mitchell, Griffiths, Costello, BrufordSubs (all used) Sully, Lovell, Bellamy, Sidell