MINEHEAD Reserves enjoyed a splendid night by beating Wembdon 4-1 to become winners of the Taunton Saturday League’s President’s Cup, a competition introduced for sides towards the end of the season.
Both teams started brightly, creating half chances but neither side truly tested the keepers. The tried and tested midfield was the key for Minehead taking control through captain Dan Vickers, Olly Prescott, Sam Heath and Harvey Wright and they opened the scoring after 22 minutes when a great move on the right resulted in a dangerous ball into the Wembdon area fell to Toby Waghorn who grasped his opportunity by smashing the ball home to the joy of the majority of the decent crowd.
Wembdon recovered and soon got the equaliser when they unleashed a fierce shot which gave keeper Jack Harding no chance. The remainder of the half was fairly even with Minehead's defence of Oli Jones, Charlie Disney, Louis Burge and Luke Heath standing strong and keeping Wembdon’s 50 goal strike partnership to bits and pieces. To most people’s surprise Minehead made four changes at the start of the second half, bringing on strong substitutes JJ Knight, Bertie Harvey-Larmar in defence and Sam Jackson and Josh Heath in midfield.
If anything the passing was even better with all areas of the field playing for each other. Minehead were now very much on top and chances soon fell to Prescott and Waghorn, and Sam Heath also fired from long range. Seventeen minutes into the half Minehead deservedly took the lead when a great through ball to Prescott saw him out pace his marker and calmly slot the ball passed the advancing keeper. Wembdon tried to change things but Minehead were too strong and maintained full control of the middle of the field.
Minehead now in total control needed to make their superiority pay off and they gave themselves breathing space when another fine move resulted in the ball falling to Sam Heath who was clinical in adding Minehead’s third.
Wembdon desperately added extra fire power up front but the whole defensive unit stood firm. A minute into added time Minehead’s top scorer Cam March was put though and he rounded the keeper to make it 4-1 with virtually the last kick of the game. Jubilant scenes at the end saw the Blues lift the cup after a excellent and well deserved result against a good Wembdon side. Man of the match:- Olly Prescott. Team:- Jack Harding, Charlie Disney, Oli Jones, Luke Heath, Louis Burge, Dan Vickers, Harvey Wright, Olly Prescott, Sam Heath, Cam March, Toby Waghorn Subs:- Sam Jackson, JJ Knight, Josh Heath, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, (all used) Lewis Breillat (not used) Buzz Attwell