MINEHEAD Reserves hosted Wyvern at the Rec in the Premier Division of the Taunton Saturday Football League in a game they would have hoped for three points.
However, for the second game in three, they failed to take the points that their possession should have allowed and went down to a 2-1 home defeat.
Having lost “Curly” Nields before the game the restructured side was still relatively strong. Minehead were on the front foot early with a strong midfield of Dan and Rob Vickers combining with Bart Kubaczewski and young Oli Reaney controlling the early play.
Wyvern were not helped by a very unpleasant coming together in the 16th minute of two of their players who collided causing serious head injuries, neither player taking further part in the game.
Other than one good diving save from Dan Pawson in goal the defence of JJ Knight, Harvey Lovell, Charlie Disney and Oli Jones was rarely troubled.
One excellent pass from Kubaczewski saw Reaney break through and he finished expertly bending his shot around the advancing keeper.
The score remained at 1-0 until half time.The break saw the introduction of Fin Haran for his first game of the season replacing Jani Jasielczuk and this added to the attacking options as Minehead continued to press.
However, after offering little a hopeful ball through avoided Lovell and to everyone’s surprise brought Wyvern level.
Young Scott Kivell ran and ran but had very little quality ball to work with. Rob Vickers showed his quality in the middle of the park and driving the team forward but it proved to no avail. After he was fouled in the middle of the field, a decision that the referee did not think, Wyvern broke with 10 minutes remaining and a quality finish put them ahead.
Substitute Erik Zachrisson offered energy but however much they presses Mnehead could not get the goal back and lost a game they should have won.
This leaves them bottom of the league with no points from their three games and this week they have an away trip to leaders, North Petherton. Man of the match:- Rob Vickers
Minehead: Dan Pawson, Charlie Disney, Oli Jones, JJ Knight, Harvey Lovell, Dan Vickers, Oli Reaney, Bart Kubaczewski, Rob Vickers, Jani Jasielczuk, Scott Kivell. Subs:- Fin Haran, Erik Zachrisson (Both used).
Elsewhere, Staplegrove moved to the top of the table after beating previously unbeaten North Petherton 4-3 in one of the most exciting games of the weekend.
Champions Redgate suffered another loss, this time going down 5-1 away to Bridgwater Wolves who won for the first time this season.
Galmington beat Wellington A 3-1 at home while Wembdon were 3-2 home winners against Stogursey.