MINEHEAD Reserves went down 3-2 at home to promoted Wellington A in the Premier Division of the Taunton and District Saturday League.

Having lost some players to the first team, it’s a season of re-building for the new young Reserves side. The first fixture against newly promoted Wellington A was fairly even but Minehead will feel they should have got something out of the game.  Wellington started brightly but the early threats were thwarted by Mineheads defence which was a combination of youth and experience with 16 year old Myles Campbell-Farmer on debut joining Toby Morris, Charlie Disney and veteran Curly Nield’s.

Midway through the first half a good run and cross from the right found a Wellington forward whose header gave young Lewis Breillat in goal no chance.

However, Minehead then settled into the game again with a new look midfield of Jack Campbell-Farmer, Oli Reaney, Bart Kubaczewski and the experienced Dan Vickers taking control of the game with good passing and link up play.

In the 25th minute a wonderful defence splitting pass by Kubaczewski found striker Scott Kivell whose perfect run beat the Wellington offside trap and he calmly slipped the ball into the net past the advancing Wellington keeper.

Minehead nearly took the lead before half time when Oli Jones playing in attack had a great chance but having done everything right his shot was superbly saved by the Wellington keeper.  Half time saw the introduction of Ethan Hall, returning to the club after four years and both he and the later substitutes Jani Jasielczuk and Luke Batts, on debut, settled in well and offered fresh legs.

However, against the run of play Wellington took the lead when a clearance by Minehead fell to a player who struck the ball powerfully past Breillat from well outside the box. They went further ahead when a very similar passage of play saw another long range effort go low in the bottom corner of the net.

The youthful home team didn’t give up and had all the last 20 minutes in and around Wellington’s penalty area. One such moment led to the ball falling to Reaney inside the box and he calmly slotted the ball home. Minehead threw everything at Wellington but unfortunately they couldn’t find the elusive equaliser.  Even though this was a defeat, it was a promising start for a new young Minehead Reserves and their attitude, commitment were there for all to see. This weekend sees them host Galmington which will be a tougher encounter again. Man of the match was Oli Reaney Team:- Lewis Breillat, Charlie Disney, Curly Nields, Toby Morris, Myles Campbell-Farmer, Dan Vickers, Bart Kubaczewski, Oli Reaney, Jack Campbell-Farmer, Oli Jones, Scott Kivell. Substitutes:-Ethan Hall, Jani Jasielczuk, Luke Batts.  Buzz Attwell