MINEHEAD'S third consecutive game on the road resulted in a 3-1 away win over Peasedown Miners Welfare in Division One of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League.

It was also their fourth win on the bounce taking them up to seventh place in the table, four points behind leaders Congresbury with games in hand on all six teams currently above them.

Starting the game with precisely the same starting XI as in the last two games, play was quite even for the first ten minutes, but Minehead started to dictate the play and were unlucky not to open the scoring when left back Ollie Hall supplied a perfect defence splitting pass from close to the halfway line finding Toby Waghorn who outstripped his marker but his shot was pushed around the post for a corner by the Minors' keeper Callum Heal.

Five minutes later The Blues took a deserved lead when Josh Elston cleverly beat two defenders and cut into the box, supplying Sam Heath with a perfect pass which he despatched past the keeper.

A superb Tony Wagborn shot from 18 yards doubled the visitors' advantage towards the end of a productive first half for the visitors.

Minehead started to lose their grip on play midway through the second half and despite bringing on fresh legs from the bench in Leon Lofts and Martyn Philips, the hosts tried to raise their game and with 15 minutes left to play centre forward Nathan Beachamp managed to pull one back as Minehead's performance turned a bit Jekyll and Hide.

Sensing two points could slip away from them, Minehead upped their game again and after Lofts was unlucky not to score when Heal saved well with his feet, Waghorn's headed pass found Elston who made the game safe three minutes into injury time. A few minutes earlier the same two players had combined well but Elston's shot had been well saved by Heal, who overall was the busier of the two keepers.

Minehead: Kyran Wilkins, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Ollie Hall, Louis Burge, Ryan Wilkins, Will Singleton-Voss, Stefan Philips, Josh Elston, Toby Waghorn, Sam Heath, Sam Jackson. Substitutes: Martyn Phillips, Leon Lofts (both used). Man of the Match: Louis Burge.

Minehead's seven-match scheduled away trips continue on Saturday, September 21, with a shorter journey to Burnham United, where they will be looking to continue not just their good form but also their rise up the league table. 

Elsewhere, leaders Congresbury maintained their one-point lead at the top of the table with a 1-0 home victory over Nailsea & Tickenham Reserves.

Stockwood Green, in second place, were 2-0 away winners over Burnham United while third-placed Imperial also won - beating Saltford 2-1 away.

BRIAN WALDER