Match report: Bridgwater Town 4, Minehead 0 (From Somerset County Gazette)

Match report: Bridgwater Town 4, Minehead 0

12:56pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Sport

Minehead kept an unchanged team for their midweek match against Bridgwater Town Reserves, on Tuesday evening, however their hosts had the luxury of introducing six of their first team players from the Southern League squad. 

It was Minehead who looked by far the most likely to score during early exchanges. Mike Mullen’s powerful header was inches away from being the opener when he connected with Stefan Phillips’ corner which had been won by a good run from his brother Martyn. Showing great pace Minehead continued to carve open the home defence and Luke Freeman’s fine run following an inch perfect 50 yard pass from Steffan Phillips was only stopped at the last hurdle by the keepers’ outstretched legs. Then Damion Redman robbed an opponent and put Martyn Phillips through only for the keeper to win the eventual 50/50 ball.

Bridgwater were also starting to show that they had pace to burn upfront and after Chris Newbold was caught in possession Graham Mercieca ran through but shot wide. A deceptive curling free kick from the dangerous winger Joe McClennon curled infront of everyone but came back off the underside of the crossbar with Meredith beaten. Minehead later though after a lightning burst of speed from the impressive McClennon, Dave Pearce turned in the wingers’ cross to open the scoring. After Minehead had composed themselves and had again had a period of taking the game to their hosts, it was Pearce who doubled the home side’s account with a solo effort that took him past two defenders from where he gave Meredith no chance.

Luke Webber then showed the Bridgwater rearguard a clean pair of heels in showing his own exceptional burst of speed, he was upended just inside the box by the last defender Zayne Simpson, who was not even talked to by the referee, let alone shown the obligatory red card. With Minehead thinking they could be back in the game, Stefan Phillips blasted the ball high over the home goal to leave the blues at two goals behind.

Early in the second half Luke Freeman was guilty of missing a golden opportunity after another through ball from Stefan Phillips, and with subsitutes Cracknell, Bloys and Guy Burns replacing Graddon, Grovers-Furse and Martyn Phillips the blues continued to impress and took the game to their opponenets. However Bridgwater were more than good enough to catch the blues on the break and after further good spells from the visitors ex-blues player Kenzie Farnham ran onto a perfect through ball after Stefan Phillips had uncharacteristically given the ball away, and similarly with 10 minutes remaining after a further spell of Minehead attacking Jake Manford volleyed home expertly from a cross to make the result a very flattering 4-0 win to the home side.

Though Minehead battled well during a nigh on impossible task, had they taken their own chances with the incisiveness of their superior opponents, the result would could have been very different.

Minehead: C Meredith, C Newbold, M Graddon, M Mullen, P Smyth, J Groves-Furse, S Phillips, D Redman, L Webber, M Phillips, L Freeman, Subs: L Bloys (6,70), M Cracknell (3,60), G Burns (10,75), A Deeks, S Tarr (Not Used) This Saturday sees the first XI travelling to Bath where they meet Odd Down Reserves in a league encounter, having already beaten them in a Somerset Senior Cup tie earlier in the month at Irnham Road. The blues will need to be at their best to replicate anything like the 4-0 scoreline from the cup match, as Odd Down’s results have improved since the clubs last met including a home win over Nailsea Town and a creditable 0-0 draw at Watchet last weekend.

On Wednesday evening (3rd October) the blues are in league action again when they host Clevedon United with a 7.45pm kick off at Irnham Road.

Minehead Reserves came away from their away match at Wembdon last week the wrong side of a 3-2 score-line. 16 year old centre forward Zac Ryder scored both goals.

Minehead Reserves’ Taunton & District League Division 3 match against serious title contenders Blagdon Hill on Saturday has been switched from Blagdon Hill to become the Reserves’ first home match of the season. Kick off at Irnham Road is 2.30pm. This is the first opportunity for supporters to see the particularly youthful side that the club has such high hopes for, in a competitive match.