MINEHEAD Reserves hosted Galmington in the Premier Division of the Taunton and District Saturday Football League last weekend and in a very competitive game went down 3-1 to the Taunton side. Both teams started brightly, Minehead allowing Galmington possession early on with their new look defence of Charlie Disney, Myles Campbell-Farmer, JJ Knight and Harvey Lovell being fully committed in the tackle and calmly clearing any danger.

Galmington found it hard to get behind the defence and resorted to long range efforts which Keeper Dan Pawson coped with. Minehead played largely ensuring the defence was supported well with Dan Vickers and the experienced Andy Hall holding the midfield well.

This allowed Rob Vickers, Bart Kubaczewski and Oli Reaney to move the ball well and support the busy Scott Kivell playing as the sole striker. Kivell, Rob Vickers and Reaney all had half chances with Kivell making dangerous forward runs and keeping the Galmington defence on their toes. The breakthrough came from one of those breaks when Lovell started a move involving Myles Campbell-Farmer and an eventual cross found Lovell in the box who finished with aplomb.  After half time, Minehead went on the front foot looking for a second goal and good link up play on the right between Disney and substitute Jack Campbell-Farmer presented Kivell with a good chance to double Minehead’s lead but his effort was saved well.

Despite other efforts from Rob Vickers and Kivell it was Galmington that scored the equaliser on the break with 30 minutes remaining. It was anyone’s game and Minehead threw on fresh legs with Jayden Payton and Jani Jasielczuk entering the fray. However with the game in the balance it was the more experienced Galmington side that took the lead from a dangerous cross and they soon followed up with the decisive third goal that saw Galmington through until the final whistle.  Against a strong and experienced Galmington side the youthful Minehead were pleased with their efforts on the day in which they competed well until the end and on another day might have got something out of the game. Man of the match: Harvey Lovell Minehead: Dan Pawson, Myles Campbell-Farmer, Harvey Lovell, JJ Knight, Charlie Disney, Dan Vickers, Andy Hall, Oli Reaney, Robert Vickers, Bart Kubaczewski, Scott Kivell, Subs:- Jack Campbell-Farmer, Jayden Payton, Jani Jasielczuk, (all used) 

Meanwhile, North Petherton are the early leaders of the Premier Division after they beat Bridgwater Wolves 4-3 at home to record their second victory of the season.They have a two-point lead over Staplegrove Reserves who won a 6-4 thriller at Wellington where they scored four goals during a 20-minute spell just before the interval.

This weekend, Minehead Reserves are home to Wyvern with a 2.30p.m. kick-off. Buzz Attwell