MINEHEAD slipped back to sixth place in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League after losing 3-1 away to Stockwood Green.

Promotion chasing Green started the game in third place, but it took a quarter of an hour before they created a clear-cut goalscoring chance, when Freddie Reed side-footed wide after a fast counter attack. The writing looked on the wall, however, and mid-way through the first half after another through ball behind the defence found Lewis Bull with time to slot home past Freddy Harvey-Larmar to open the scoring.

With the main source of attack coming from Stockwood’s tall centre half Cole Thatcher’s searching free kicks, many from inside his own half on their unique pitch, Minehead managed to keep the score at one-nil until the break.

Three minutes after the turn around, Minehead scored the equalizer in a relatively similar fashion, when a long free kick by Sam Jackson was flicked on by Toby Waghorn and George Painter shot home at the far post.

However, they were only level for a matter of minutes as home captain Harry Templeman renewed the advantage in their next attack, firing home from fifteen yards. Stockwood’s third and decisive goal came late in the game after Minehead had taken the game to the Bristol side, from substitute Jack Cousins.

Minehead fought hard without five senior players including club captain Stefan Phillips, but received little in good fortune on the day. However the over-riding fact was that they were beaten by the better, stronger team who now move up to second place and could well be in the Somerset Senior League Premier Division next season.

Minehead: Freddy Harvey-Larmar, Rob Vickers, Charlie Disney, Louis Burge, George Painter, Will Singleton-Voss, Scott Kivell, Josh Elston, Toby Waghorn, Guy Burns, Sam JacksonSubs: Ethan Hall, Jack Campbell-Farmer (both used). Man of the Match: George Painter.

Surprise of the day in the first division was the dropping of two points by runaway leaders Congresbury who were held to a 1-1 away draw by Peasedown Miners Welfare who are sitting in tenth spot and way off the fight for the championship.

It was only the fourth time Congresbury had failed to win a league game, having now drawn three and lost only once in 21 matches. They remain firm favourites to finish on top at the end of the season.

Stockwood Green, having now completed a league double over Minehead, are second in the table but are eight points behind Congresbury.

Wrington Redhill are now up to third on goal difference after they hammered second from bottom Ashcott 6-3 at home. Ashton & Backwell dropped back to fourth after they went down surprisingly 2-0 at home to Clutton who are down in 11th place.

Saltford remain bottom of the table after Minethey lost 3-0 away to Middlezoy Rovers Reserves who are still in relegation trouble.

Meanwhile, Minehead travel to play their historical Western League rivals Glastonbury on Saturday, March 15, who are currently one point and one league position below them in the first division. Minehead are seven points behind Wrington Redhill with The Blues having one game in hand. So if promotion is to remain a possibility Minehead need to put together a series of wins very soon if they are not going to miss out.