Unwanted treble for Blues

9:20am Tuesday 18th November 2008

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Toolstation League Division 1: Minehead 0, Shepton Mallet 2.

MINEHEAD stumbled to their third defeat of the season at the hands of Shepton Mallet in this bottom of the table match.

The Blues went close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute when a fierce shot by Simon Lyons was turned away by the keeper and then Aaron Deekes saw his effort fly over the crossbar.

With the play flowing from end to end, Mike Mullen came to Minehead’s rescue when he cleared the ball off the goal-line.

Ashley Francis should have given the visitors the lead when he broke clear only to see his shot blocked by the advancing Greg Howard, forced to play in goal for the Blues.

The deadlock was eventually broken in the 34th minute when James Browning handled in the penalty area and Francis scored from the spot to give the visitors a half time lead.

After the interval Minehead continued to lack any cohesion and they rarely looked like equalising.

And Shepton Mallet sealed a vital victory in the 80th minute when keeper Howard allowed a free kick by substitute Reynold Turnock to slip through his hands for a second goal.

Having now gone 11 games without a win the Blues find themselves third from the bottom of the league, facing a series of away matches in December.

There is little doubt they are in a relegation struggle.

Minehead: Greg Howard, Mike Mullen, Andrew Gubb, Robbie Hopkins, Ollie Purvis, Luke Taylor, Simon Lyons, James Browning, Aaron Deekes, Andy Hall, Chris Yeates Subs: Jack Groves-Furse (used) Adrian Giblett (not used).