MINEHEAD won their third successive game in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League when they beat Westfield 2-0 away

Victory enabled the seasiders to move up to eighth in the table, having won three of their opening four league games. They have games in hand on all the teams above them, which is an encouraging start for Minehead.

Minehead made the lengthy trip to Westfield with the same starting lineup which had won at Imperial the previous weekend, and starting strongly the confidence and belief within the group noticeably continued to grow.

As early as the fourth minute Minehead showed their cohesion when skipper Stefan Phillips supplied the perfect pass to enable Josh Elston to burst into the Westfield penalty box and place a confident shot past the exposed keeper to give The Blues the perfect start.

Twenty minutes later, with Minehead continuing to look the better side, teenager Sam Jackson doubled their advantage, side-footing into the top corner after a prolonged attack had again pinned the hosts onto the back foot.

Ten minutes from the end of the first half another teenager, left back Ollie Hall, sent in a swerving 35-yard effort which the keeper could only parry, sensing it was not safe to attempt catching the shot. 

Toby Waghorn’s energetic running and chasing of lost causes was again another positive aspect of Minehead’s performance, and it was noticeable once again how important captain Stefan Phillips’ guidance and support was to the rest of the team who continue to gel impressively.

Manager Craig Carr took the opportunity to rotate the side during the second half, giving subs Olly Prescott, Martyn Phillips and the returning Leon Lofts useful gametime, and while Minehead failed to add to their lead, they never looked particularly troubled by a team who had already won three of their opening four games this season, showing that The Blues can compete against the better teams in the league.

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: Martyn Phillips, Leon Lofts, Olly Prescott (all used).

Meanwhile, Minehead’s gruelling away run continues on Saturday, September 14, when they play Peasedown Miners Welfare, who have played only four matches this season, having won two and lose two and are 12th in the table with, like Minehead, games in hand on most teams above them.

Ashton & Backwell United are the early leaders of the first division, having won five and lost two of their seven matches. They have a two-point lead over Congrebury while Imperial, beaten by Minehead recently, are lying third, even though they lost again at the weekend - 4-1 at home to Stockwood Green.