MINEHEAD Hockey Club’s first league matches of the 2024 campaign began with a surprise trio of defeats. The Firsts were hosting Tiverton and fell to an unexpected 4-2 loss.

The Second XI had travelled to Exeter to face ISCA and despite only managing to scrape together a scratch eleven players to face the home squad of fifteen, they took the game to ISCA, and debutant Pete Cole was unlucky to have his ‘goal’ disallowed by the home umpire, which would have changed the game entirely.

However, Man of the match Lee Fairbrother’s heroics in goal kept the game finely balanced. ISCA’s squad size eventually took its toll, and they scored a well-worked goal to steal their win on 65 minutes.

The Third XI travelled to Shepton Mallett to face their Second XI, and came away a distant second in a 6-0 defeat. Again, short on numbers, Man of the Match Steve Clapp worked hard in goal. Newcomer Renjeesh Krishnan was introduced to the Third team’s legendary socialising on the way home!

Training resumes with more purpose on Wednesday as the 1’s play the 2’s at home on Saturday, October 5th at 2pm.