MINEHEAD Hockey Club men’s first XI continued their strong season with a 6-0 win over Sidmouth and Ottery to sit second in their League at the half-way point.

Having already played some excellent hockey with a skeleton crew, they were not worried by their lack of substitutes and quickly settled into some good possession-based hockey. They struggled for much of the first half to convert this pressure into goals until Lawrence Taylor’s solo effort broke the deadlock.

Stand-in skipper Claude Mahlich had some choice words for his cohort at the break, which proved to be the catalyst as Josh Hooper struck their second from the restart, and a minute later Mark Bolton added a third. Hooper struck again, quickly followed by James White finding a low corner of the goal. The sixth and final score fell to Chris Weetch, slotting home calmly under pressure.

Minehead Second XI ended the first half of the 2024 season with a dramatic match at West Somerset College against fellow mid-tablers Chard 2’s. Minehead bamboozled their visitors inside the first minute with a swift one-two move of the ball from the centre spot to their D, resulting in a penalty corner. The push-out was topped and slipped left and the shot found Pete Cole of the right post who took the deflection safely past the Chard keeper.

Needless to say this prompted a response from Chard, but try though they did they were unable to turn their constant pressure into a much needed goal. After a flurry of second half penalty corners, they finally managed to hustle the ball past keeper Lee Fairbrother to vociferous celebration.

With a minute to go a long clearance found Jack Lancaster at the edge of the Chard D; who calmly stepped in and his shot deflected off a Chard defender to beat their keeper and hit the back of the goal as the final whistle blew to seal a well-deserved 2-1 win.

The Third XI hosted table toppers North Somerset in what promised to be a tough day for the squad. A good turn out of players saw plenty of opportunity for substitutions, and with coach Andrew Speed on hand he brought shape and discipline to the team which they lacked in their recent away games.

Defence was crucial, and Paul Thomas and Simon Strong held the central defence with Man of the match James Matthews and Mark Collins right and left, alternating with Richard Churchill. The visitors however were well organised and a 3-0 lead at the break was doubled by the final whistle.

The next hockey action will be on the 28th December at 10.30 at West Somerset College Astro when the Club’s Annual Henry Bissell Memorial match is played.