MINEHEAD extended their unbeaten run under Craig Carr to four matches with a 2-0 away victory over Burnham in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League.

With their confidence growing, The Blues attacked their higher placed opponents from the start and in the first ten minutes repeatedly imposed themselves on the Burnham penalty area and went desperately close to opening the scoring; Toby Waghorn after rushing a defender into a mistake, a direct run and shot by Rob Vickers, then Waghorn again harassing a defender and winning the ball inside the box, but on each occasion the shots were either narrowly wide or well saved keeper Dylan Webb.

An injury to left back Martyn Phillips saw him replaced by Dan Vickers, with his brother Rob reverting to a defensive role and Dan taking his place in midfield. 

In the 25th minute the hosts, who had been generally pinned back by Minehead’s positive start, created their first real opportunity, but Blues’ keeper Jack Harding denied their close range shot with his feet.

Minehead continued on the front foot and Guy Burns twice went close, firstly shooting narrowly wide after another cutting move from deep, then moments later having engineered an opportunity for himself, his powerful shot from just outside the box went no more than a foot over the bar with Webb looking well beaten.

The break through finally came ten minutes before half time when another defence splitting move resulted in Burns supplying Rob Vickers who cut the ball back from the bye-line to Sam Jackson and though the ball looked like it was falling behind the youngster his confidence and agility enabled him to re-adjust his body and flick the ball home astutely with his trailing heel, to record his first goal in at County League level. 

Ten minutes into the second half Jackson doubled The Blues’ lead with a rarely witnessed type goal, when his corner kick curled home without any intervention from any other player.

With a two-goal deficit to chase down the hosts to chase down Burnham responded with a spell of strong possession and attacked but Minehead managed to hold firm and deserved all three points with another very positive performance to record their second victory in a four-match unbeaten run, after previously going a confidence sapping eleven games without winning.

Manager Craig Carr must be particularly pleased with the way the recently introduced group of youngsters have gelled with the more experienced players, and the confidence and spirit that is growing within his team. 

Minehead: Jack Harding, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Martyn Phillips, Luke Badcock, Ryan Wilkins, Tiago Alipio, Stefan Phillips, Rob Vickers, Toby Waghorn, Guy Burns, Sam Jackson 

Subs: Dan Vickers, Ollie Prescott, Louis Goodrum (all used). Man of the Match: Sam Jackson.