MINEHEAD’S hopes of promotion in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League suffered a setback when they went down 2-1 at home to Stockwood Green.

The visitors started on the front foot and looked the most positive early on, looking impressive going forwards with right winger Sam Thomas being their noticeable threat from the outset.

The Blues’ defence looked fairly comfortable and coped with the attacks without there being any serious scares and the hosts went close when Stefan Phillips brought a good save out of visiting keeper Billy Taylor with a rare left footed drive from twenty five yards, and minutes later a goal-mouth scramble after Taylor had spilt the ball saw Carl Jones, who had just been in a collision with the Taylor, attempt to swivel while on the ground to force the ball home was cleared off the line with Minehead thinking they had taken the lead.

Having up to this stage been end-to-end but devoid of real clear cut scoring chances, Stockwood now applied good pressure, and a similar six-yard-box scramble occurred at the other end. Then on the stroke of half time some hesitancy between The Blues keeper and a defender left goalscoring right back Billy Combs the simple looking task of heading home at the far post to give the visitors the lead.

Two minutes after the break The Blues were back on level terms, when a long drop kick from Wilkins found central defender George Painter in an elevated position in the opponents’ half and his perfect header found Ian Bellinger who expertly curled the ball home from outside of the box.

Adding spice to proceedings, the referee awarded a penalty after what appeared to be a genuine collision inside Minehead’s penalty box, with his interpretation being a foul had been committed, which Wilkins then duly saved.

All three Minehead substitutes were introduced during the second half, which included another teenager from the youth section in Jonah Hopkins, to add to the first start for the first team for left back Myles Campbell Farmer, but the introduction of Hopkins also saw the departure of influential captain Stefan Phillips through injury.

During the final quarter of the game, play became more desperate and ragged from both sides, with Stockwood pressing hard for a winner, which came from substitute Will Banks, whose left footed effort on 76 minutes was enough to claim all three points.

Minehead: Kyran Wilkins, Sam Heath, Myles Campbell-Farmer, Louis Burge, George Painter, Will Singleton-Voss, Stefan Phillips, Josh Elston, Carl Jones, Ian Bellinger, Matt TrumpSubs: Toby Waghorn, Johan Hopkins, Steve Jackson (All Used)Man of the Match: George Painter.

The Blues now start a gruelling four match run of away games, as they try to stay in touch with the top three places, but there are five other clubs with the same intentions, and only five points separating them. This coming Saturday, February 22, sees Minehead travelling to second placed Wrington Redhill in the Mendip hills between Weston and Bristol.

Meanwhile Congresbury still have a six-point lead at the top of the table - and also have games in hand on all their rivals. They have lost only one of their 18 matches and are clear favourites for the championship.

Minehead, now in sixth spot, are 11 points adrift of Congresbury, and have played two more matches.