MINEHEAD kept up the pressure on the teams above them in Division Two of the Under 14 section in the Taunton and District Youth Football League with a convincing 3-0 win away to at bottom side Bridgwater Victoria Park Rangers.

The visitors started brightly and in the first 10 minutes had several scoring opportunities but did not find the back of the net. However, on 14 minutes, Sam Taylor-Pitkin converted a left-footed half-volley on the turn which flew beyond the VPR ‘keeper in to the top corner.

Minehead seemed to take their foot off the gas after the goal, and the rest of the first half was a tighter affair and it remained 1-0 at the break.

The half time team talk worked a treat in motivating the Minehead players and the introduction of a few fresh legs saw visitors in the ascendancy straight from the kick off.

Eventually, the visitors extended their lead when Jacob Fouracre capped off a fine passage of play down the right with a neat finish low and hard in to the net to make it 2-0.

Just two minutes later Jacob Fouracre was at it again when he in possession on the edge of the box, beat his man and fired low again, beating the ‘keeper to add his second.

VPR may have been trailing 3-0 but they still posed a threat when they attacked, but the Minehead back line held firm and ‘keeper Harry Milton needed to be alert off his line on a number of occasions, making some crucial saves.

Minehead had their own chances, the best being a smart turn and shot from Zak Goswell in the 63rd minute and the last action of the game saw Jacob being denied his hat-trick after a good save by the VPR ‘keeper. From the resulting corner, Rio Davies forced another good save with the last kick of the game.

Alex Jones was the Player of the Match for a calm, authoritative performance at the back.

The result keeps Minehead in sixth place, but closer to those above them with games in hand over most of those teams. This coming weekend Minehead visit Tone Youth Wasps, who are two places them with two more points, so it is likely to be a very close match with important points at stake..

Minehead: Sam Taylor-Pitkin , Ewan Stitt, Jacob Fouracre, Toby Payne, Rio Davis, Alex Jones , Jake Delanty-Mitchell, Ethan Cockburn, Charlie Bonar, Harry Stone, Reggie High, Zak Goswell, Oli Pravato , Oli Tisbury.

*Middlezoy Rovers Harriers are the leaders of the division with 29 points from 14 games. They have seven more points than Minehead but have played three more fixtures. Isle of Wedmore Lions, who have lost only one game and are second, are the championship favourites.