CHILCOMPTON SPORTS 2

MINEHEAD 0

EARLY goals within the first two minutes of each half, uncharacteristically conceded, severely hampered Minehead’s attempt to reach the Somerset County League Cup Final last Saturday when they travelled to play Chilcompton Sports, who are currently mid table in the Premier Division.

With a strong wind in their faces, the hosts started brightly and a through ball from deep forced Blues keeper Kyran Wilkins to rush out to the edge of his penalty area but marauding full back Monty Burgess got to the ball first, putting him through on goal.

Both Minehead’s central defenders had by now managed to get back towards the goal line to cover Burgess’ goal bound shot, but as it got close they both appeared to leave attempting a clearance to the other and the potentially block-able shot went between them to open the scoring.

Minehead were struggling to make any use of the ball with the wind at their backs, and several openings were ruined by the ball running quickly away from the intended teammate. Playing against the wind Chilcompton deployed shorter and more grounded passes which kept them in control for much of the first half.

The second half started with Chilcompton looking to put the tie to bed and after Ryan Gay had blasted over the bar when well placed, the next attack saw Wilkins misjudge Sam Coggle’s wind assisted shot as going wide, but it curled in to double the hosts’ advantage.

Manager Avril Cooke then changed the approach, bringing on experienced defender Matt Cracknell and switching to just three in defence in a brave attempt to get back into the game. The result was a much more balanced Blues’ performance for the remaining 40 minutes of the game, during which Minehead edged the half but did not find any luck in front of goal.

Chilcompton did enough to hang onto their lead and deserved to go through to the final where they will meet the winners of the other semi-final, to be played between the Premier Division’s two runaway leaders Mendip Broadwalk and Nailsea & Tickenham United.

Minehead: Kyran Wilkins, Martyn Phillips, Callum Barnfield, Stefan Philips, Michael Nield, Ryan Wilkins, Rob Vickers, Benn Bartlett, Ben Aston, Zak Ryder, Guy Burns. Substitutes: Matt Cracknell, Tiago Allipio (both used). Minehead’s Man of the Match: Stefan Phillips.

Minehead are without a game this weekend but have their penultimate home league game of the season at The Rec on Saturday the following weekend.BRIAN WALDER