MINEHEAD, fielding another youthful side, drew 2-2 at home with Bishops Lydeard in their third pre-season friendly between the clubs on Wednesday night.

Both management teams will have been pleased with many aspects of their teams’ performances. After an even first 15 minutes it was the hosts that went closest to opening the scoring after a quarter of an hour when a good combination between Ollie Hall and Joe Wilkinson presented the latter with a position to get a shot off, but his effort was too close to the keeper.

Shortly afterwards Lydeard took the lead when a positive attack saw them outnumber and stretch the Minehead defence and it was dangerman Marky Jones who beat Jack Harding from ten yards.

In a period where they looked to be getting on top it was the same player who capitalised on a sloppy ball being played out of the defence to double his tally.

Minehead managed to weather the short storm and nearly pulled a goal back when two serious goal attempts came in the same attack. Firstly, Sam Jackson’s close-range effort was cleared off the line and an improvised attempt from the clearance by Wilkinson, who with his back to the goalmanaged to flick the ball goalwards but the keeper was alert enough to save the audacious attempt. 

To close an entertaining first half Toby Waghorn saw his 25-yard effort go a couple of feet over the bar.    

At the start of the second half Blues’ manager Craig Carr introduced Leon Lofts, Hubi Wejnerowski and Will Singleton Voss, and within the first ten minutes of the half Loft’s chasing lost causes almost paid off twice with his first effort being blocked by the keeper and soon afterwards he saw another shot blocked by a defender. 

Minehead’s Josh Elston was next to go close when his goalbound shot was again blocked by the busy Lydeard keeper and then Wilkinson saw his header bounce off the top of the bar.

Lofts then outpaced the visiting defenders but his shot was just over, but he got his reward with a 25 yard effort a little later to make it game on at 1-2. 

Re-introducing Waghorn from the bench paid further dividends soon afterwards when he touched home a perfect cross from substitute Will Singleton-Voss to level the score.

The Blues finished the game looking the most likely to snatch a win, and Olly Prescott saw his shot hit the top of the post and Lofts’ shot went agonisingly wide a after a defence splitting 1-2.

Minehead: Jack Harding, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Ollie Hall, Ollie Hall, Louis Burge, Josh Heath, Ryan Wilkins, Sam Heath, Josh Elston, Toby Waghorn, Sam Jackson. Subs: Leon Lofts, Olly Prescott, Will Singleton-Voss, Lewis Goodrum, Hubi Wejnerowski (all used). Man of the Match: Leon Lofts.

BRIAN WALDER