MINEHEAD maintained their bid for promotion in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League with a 2-1 home win over Clutton.

The Seasiders started brightly and in the very first minute went close with a Sam Heath shot. Five minutes later there were big penalty claims from players and supporters alike when centre forward Carl Jones was noticeably barged as he leapt to head home from a perfect cross on the six-yard line, but the match official brushed away the strong appeals.

Six minutes later Clutton responded when top scorer Jake Hawkins’ lightning pace showed Minehead defenders a clean pair of heels, but his shot staight at Kyram Wilkins was food and drink for the keeper.

Deja vu was then in evidence when Minehead fell behind after 15 minutes, just like the previous weekend’s start against Clutton’s near neighbours Peasedown, when centre half Jake Canning shot home from close range through a crowded six-yard box following a corner after a strong period of possession from the homesters.

Like Peasedown, Clutton’s history of playing against Minehead also stretches back more than 100 years with regular county league tussles. Just like Minehead both clubs have played at their ‘eternal’ grounds ever since.

One minute later Minehead appeared to have equalised when Jones ‘scored’ with a superbly executed header, but the ‘goal’ was harshly disallowed for a push. Continuing the on-slaught, two minutes later Sam Heath and Matt Trump sliced through the Clutton defence but the former’s eventual shot was a foot wide. Minehead’s luck remained against them when a Will Singleton-Voss solo run saw him beat two defenders and then round the keeper, but having been forced wide, he ran out of pitch.

Next to go close was Ian Bellinger whose 25-yard curler from an angle, destined for the top corner, was tipped over by the busy Clutton keeper Curtis Smith. Jones then broke through for a one on one with the keeper but his shot was just wide. But on the verge of half time the centre forward scored to put his new club back on terms, following up after a Singleton-Voss header from a Stefan Phillips’ free-kick was parried by Smith.

The second half saw Minehead pushing hard for the winner and Matt Trump’s pass put Matt Eston clear of the defence, but again the shot was fractionally wide. Just after the hour mark Craig Carr introduced three pairs of fresh legs with Toby Waghorn, Rob Vickers and Matty Ronan coming on and seven minutes from time Singleton-Voss capped a fine display when his shot went in off the foot of the far post to give Minehead the three points they deserved. However, they were made to fight hard to claim them by the resolute visitors.

Minehead: Kyran Wilkins, Sam Heath, Toby Morris, Louis Burge, George Painter, Will Singleton-Voss, Stefan Phillips, Josh Elston, Carl Jones, Ian Bellinger, Matt Trump. Subs: Toby Waghorn, Rob Vickers, Matty Ronan (all used), Guy Burns. Man of the Match: Will Singleton-Voss.

This coming Saturday, September 15, Minehead play their third successive home game when sixth-placed Stockwood Green play at The Rec, with the Bristol-based side two points behind with a game in hand. Another victory is needed to put some distance between the clubs, particularly as the return match at Stockwood is three weeks later during a gruelling four-match away run for Minehead.