Having previously only met Imperial in cup matches, this was Minehead’s first ever league encounter against their Bristol based opponents.

The Blues boldly attacked the league leaders from the off and took the lead after fifteen minutes when a positive attacking move had seen the Blues’ attack forced towards the corner flag, but Josh Elston managed to turn on a sixpence and beat his defender, and crossed perfectly into the box where Sam Heath’s well timed header from twelve yards out was too good for the home keeper Tom Hand.

Keeping pressure on their hosts Minehead continued to largely control the play and around the half hour mark doubled their advantage when the lively Toby Waghorn, whose running was causing the tall Imperial defence difficulties, raced through the centre and from fifteen yards out his well-placed shot was parried by Hand, but had enough power to get over the line.

Waghorn continued to be the thorn in the home defence and could have completed a first half hat-trick but having broken through the rearguard again skewed his shot when well placed, and moments later he once more showed defenders a clean pair of heels, but this time shot inches wide with the keeper well beaten.

After thirty minutes Sam Heath was replaced by Olly Prescott after he had landed awkwardly twice having on both occasions out-jumped much taller opponents in aerial challenges. Minehead continued to attack, and Josh Elston’s volley went just wide and edging the game through their more confident and competitive flowing play Minehead deservedly went in at the break two goals ahead.

Five minutes after half time Olly Prescott cut in from near the corner flag, and having beaten two defenders, unleashed a special shot that flew into the far corner to seemingly put the game to bed at 3-0.

Hubi Wejnerowski replaced Sam Jackson after sixty minutes and then a bizarre incident seemed to change the game. Two Minehead strikers were favourites to latch onto a long through ball from Stefan Phillips, when the home keeper ran out of his penalty box upon realising decided to blatantly handle the ball as it bounced up around his mid-rift. The referee decided that it only warranted a yellow card, citing that two Imperial defenders were on hand to clear the ball, however the Minehead strikers were both far closer to gaining control of Phillips’ pass had the keeper not clearly infringed the laws of the game. Prescott’s free kick curled around the wall, but Hurd did well to save at full stretch.

The home team seemed spurred on by the outcome of the incident and found two goals to get right back in contention of a game that had seemed beyond them.

At 3-2 and the game was back in the balance, Minehead were awarded a penalty. Captain Stefan Phillips, who boasts an incredibly high conversion rate from the spot, saw his firmer than normal spot-kick rebound off the crossbar.

Though they ended up under pressure from their hosts’, it would have been a travesty had Minehead not won the game. Their comprehensive team performance, albeit with a little wobble midway through the second half, continues to show how well the younger players in the side are gelling with those more established.

Minehead: Kyran Wilkins, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Ollie Hall, Louis Burge, Ryan Wilkins, Will Singleton-Voss, Stefan Phillips, Josh Elston, Toby Waghorn, Sam Heath, Sam Jackson

Subs: Andy Hall, Martyn Phillips, Hubi Wejnerowski, Olly Prescott (All Used)