Minehead’s win-less run stretched to five games on Saturday when they tasted the narrowest of defeats against a well organised home side, writes Brian Walder.

The game was a real credit to the County League with both sides serving up impressive displays and you felt that neither side deserved to leave Cassis Road pointless.

Play started fiercely with Minehead captain Stefan Phillips and a home player both being cautioned by an impressive referee who managed a game that could have been feisty very well.

Before ten minutes had been played the hosts had taken the lead when a cross to the far post evaded the Minehead defence and their influential player Liam Gilbert, a thorn in Minehead’s side on previous occasions, tapped home at the far post.

Though Minehead saw more of the ball whilst looking composed, Burnham showed a directness when they attacked, and the next incident of real note saw a 25-yard shot which experienced Blues keeper Kyran Wilkins judged expertly as not being on target; but it would have been too close for some keepers’ comfort, clipping the bar as it went over.

Burnham’s goal saw the next escape when the busy Will Singleton-Voss threaded a pass through to last weeks’ two goal hero Ian Bellinger. His shot from an angle beat the diving keeper Tom Edwards, but went inches passed the post. During this Minehead spell of dominance, Rob Vickers’ shot from 25 yards saw Edwards just tipping over.

Keeping the pressure on it was a Phillips shot that next went desperately close and after Josh Elston was cynically brought down after beating defenders, Bellinger’s free kick was no more than a foot away from levelling the scores.

The onslaught continued and a deep cross from Bellinger found Singleton-Voss who shot just wide, and this incident was the last one of note in a first half which Minehead certainly edged on play and possession, but the hosts had been more cynical and consequently led at the break.

Grabbing the game by the neck at the start of the second period, it was Burnham who imposed themselves; Cam Birch’s shot brought a good save out of Wilkins, and soon afterwards Wilkins made another good save from James Chinnock’s header from a corner.

Minehead’s frontline had been bolstered by former Bridgwater and Middlezoy centre forward Carl Jones, and after he had been felled by a defender Bellinger’s powerful free kick went just wide.

Craig Carr then brought on a third striker from the bench in top scorer Toby Waghorn, as The Blues went pretty well for broke, and though three more second half substitutions meant free legs for Minehead, Edwards remained defiant in the home goal and was the main reason that his team ended the game with all of the available points.

Minehead: Kyran Wilkins, Rob Vickers, Ollie Hall, Louis Burge, George Painter, Will Singleton-Voss, Stefan Phillips, Josh Elston, Carl Jones, Ian Bellinger, Sam Heath

Subs: Sam Jackson, Toby Waghorn, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Guy Burns (All Used)

Man of the Match: Louis Burge

Minehead have no game this Saturday, but the following three weekends see home fixtures against teams from mid-table or lower, meaning there is still a chance that returning to winning form could elevate them into the top three.