MINEHEAD warmed up for their home clash with Ulsport Somerset County Football League first division leaders Ashton & Backwell United on Saturday (December 21) with a comfortable 5-0 home success against bottom side Ashcott at The Rec.

Ashcott started the game well and applied pressure by winning two early corners, but after five minutes the hosts won a flag-kick at the Queens Road end and an inswinger from influential captain Stefan Phillips deceived the keeper and curled home.

This would not have been the start that basement club Ashcott, without a win all season, would have been looking for but despite a lot of possession Minehead did not add to their lead until around the half hour mark when industrious midfielder Sam Heath intercepted a poor clearance from the keeper and beat him with a superb twenty-five yard lob.

Minehead were then indebted to keeper Kyran Wilkins to produce a moment of brilliance, saving a well struck shot heading into the top corner by pushing it round the post. On the stroke of half-time centre forward Toby Waghorn continued his good form this season, cutting in from the left and finding the bottom corner with what is becoming a trademark finish.

Play levelled itself out in the second half as Minehead picked when to effectively apply pressure and found their fourth goal of the game when Will Singleton-Voss stole in at the back post to score his first for the club.

Introducing young midfielder Sam Jackson, along with the evergreen Guy Burns, it was the former’s cross which struck an outstretched Ashcott hand meaning a penalty was awarded. Phillips confidently completed the task to score his second goal and the home team’s fifth, thus finishing with a positive 5-0 victory.

Minehead: Kyran Wilkins, Martyn Phillips, Ryan Wilkins, Louis Burge, George Painter, Will Singleton-Voss, Stefan Phillips, Josh Elston, Toby Waghorn, Scott Kivell, Sam Heath. Subs: Sam Jackson, Guy Burns (both used) Lewis Breilatt, James Knight.Man of the Match: Sam Heath.

This Saturday’s visitors Ashton & Backwell have a two-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Congresbury who have two matches in hand.

Craig Carr’s Minehead are eight points behind the leaders with three games in hand, so Saturday’s big clash is crucial for both sides as they enter the Christmas period.

Minehead are also away to Middlezoy Rovers Reserves, who are lying 14th in the table, on Saturday, December 28. Middlezoy beat Minehead 4-0 at Irnham Road on the opening day of the season but have won only two matches since then.

It means that despite their bright start to the season, Middlezoy find themselves in the relegation zone although they have games in hand on teams around them. Ashcott are six points adrift at the bottom.