Somerset Division One: Minehead 1-1 Combe St Nicholas

In a game which failed to reach any great heights of entertainment, Minehead almost failed to score against a team who had conceded 70 goals in 17 away games so far this season, scoring their only goal of the game from a penalty in the 90th minute.

The hosts failed to convert a succession of first half chances they had created, and as the second half went on their creativity all but disappeared.

Chances came consistently from the outset, the first coming when Rob Vickers burst through the visitors’ defence to latch on to a through ball, but the defence recovered well and made an important block from the centre forwards’ shot.

Hubi Wejnerowski was the next to run through the defence but shot wide, followed by another move which saw Martyn Phillips clear the backline, but his shot was well saved by keeper Andrew Sochon.

Guy Burns supplied a good opportunity for Vickers who missed his shot, the Harry Perren’s attempt brought another save from Sochon. Top scorer Burns then broke through, rounded Sochon but shot wide, then saw his scorching shot from 25 yards deflected wide for a corner.

Combe nearly snatched the lead just before the break when Kieran Wilmington’s cross-shot from just outside the box went inches wide of the post.

With Minehead being dominant in the first half you felt that if Minehead couldn’t find the first goal, that the visitors would eventually find a winner from a breakaway, and Minehead’s dominance soon disappeared in the second forty-five during which the visitors started to impress themselves on the game as Minehead ran out of ideas.

A good corner saw Combe’s Jacob Jones’ header come back off the bar, shortly followed by another attack which finished with Wilmington’s shot going just wide. It seemed like the increasingly inevitable snatch and grab was complete when Owen Ladd prodded home during a melee in the six- yard box after a well targeted corner kick.

The Blues managed to salvage a point right at the end of a game they should have already wrapped up when trusty penalty king Stefan Phillips converted comfortably after a handball decision had presented the lifeline.

Minehead: Adam “Vinnie” Jones, Martyn Phillips, Harry Perren, Luke Badcock, Mike Graddon, Charlie Purvis, Stefan Phillips, Hubi Wejnerowski, Rob Vickers, Guy Burns, Olly Prescott
Subs: Alfie Lyons, Janus Jasielczuk, Oliver Jones (All Used)

Man of the Match: Charlie Purvis

Minehead are at home again on Saturday when they play fourth placed Peasedown Miners Welfare, who are close enough to the teams above them to make a serious challenge for promotion to the Premier Division.