Minehead firsts travelled to Wells to face Mid Somerset firsts continuing their hunt for vital points in their battle against relegation. Unfortunately further changes in personnel were necessary due to availability and a bare 11 were up against it from the get go.

Mid Somerset started on the front foot and started to overload the midfield area leading to a number of breakaways.

Eventually an innocuous through ball that looked to be heading wide came back off the post to wrong foot Lee Fairbrother in goal and Mid Somerset’s striker was first to react.

Minehead grew into the game and put together a concerted spell of pressure, multiple short corners and a couple of balls that flashed dangerously across the goal failed to materialise in a goal. Frustratingly the home team then scored from another breakaway.

Minehead were still well in the game but needed to score the next goal. Two routine short corners managed to sneak past postman Tom White and suddenly 4-0 was a bridge too far.

To Minehead’s credit they stuck to the task and battled on willingly whilst Mid Somerset constantly rotated their bench. Eventually a run of short corners saw Nick Hill capitalise with a good finish to the top left corner. Mid Somerset’s keeper certainly earned his post-match pint but ultimately a 4-1 defeat and the relegation concerns deepen.

It was a similar tale for the seconds as they hosted Bridgwater seconds who are sitting high in the league.

A really close first half saw both sides with chances, and Minehead commanding the midfield through Taylor and Pring with Luke Barker adding pace on the left side, and Ben Druitt worrying the opposition all over the park.

Mark Bolland finally managed to evade his marker on the edge of the D and managed to slip it past the keeper for Barker to slot home for a well deserved lead. The second half saw Bridgwater’s bench add some legs to their attack, and resulted in four unanswered goals to see the visitors cruise to a win.

The Thirds hosted Taunton Vale 5’s having beaten them in the away fixture before Christmas. A strong first quarter saw concerted play by the Minehead forwards and a penalty corner from Luke Orpin saw them take the lead. Richard Darliugnton followed up with a quick second goal.

Taunton pushed back and slotted two goals before the break. With Vale going ahead early in the second half it was going to be a test of Minehead’s fitness.

With five minutes to go it took Orpin to slot home a penalty flick to save the draw, and win the Glenmore Bakery Man of the Match accolade.

This weekend the 1st face Isca, the 2’s are away at Sidmouth and Ottery, and the 3’s are away at Mid-Somerset.