MINEHEAD narrowly lost this highly entertaining home fixture against Almondsbury UWE last Saturday, after starting and finishing the game the stronger team.

In the blustery, wet conditions it was testament to both sets of players that constructive football was seen throughout. After an early scare which saw Sam Cook break through only to shoot wide for the visitors, it was Minehead who started the brightest and Stuart Wood in the Almondsbury goal did well to hold a dangerous deep cross from Lee Todd with strikers hovering.

The opening goal came after 12 minutes when Mat Cracknell's inch perfect cross was headed past Wood by Luke Webber from 12 yards out.

The visitors responded and debutant keeper Alex Sprake saved well from Matt Brown's header. Minehead's goalscorer Webber then missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 when he shot wide with only the keeper to beat, having burst through the Almondsbury defence.

The University side levelled the scores here minutes later when a deep cross eluded the Minehead defence and found the unmarked Jordan Cooper at the far post who slotted home. With pressure now being applied Paul Smyth headed off the goal line however it was not long until another deep cross exposed Minehead's defensive marking and James Fitzpatrick put the visitors ahead.

Joe Holder, making his home debut for the blues, then cut in from the right flank and saw his strong shot from an angle beat the keeper but rebound off the foot of the post.

The killer blow came when early in the second half the powerful Sam Cook added to his personal tally after Sprake had done well to block his first attempt.

Another effort from Joe Brown was competently saved by Wood in the Almondsbury goal and Minehead brought on Sam Hutchings as a front runner to replace defender Mat Cracknell who had taken a knock.

With 15 minutes remaining the blues' pressure paid off when reduced Andy Gubb shot home from 12 yards out after being put through by an astute pass. Mike Mullen and James Browning then replaced Paul Smyth and the hobbling Luke Webber. In the dying minutes with Almondsbury using time wasting tactics, a superb goal-bound shot from Holder was brilliantly saved by Wood, and despite Minehead's efforts an equalising goal could not be found.

Minehead: Alex Sprake, Paul Smyth, Mat Cracknell, Lee Todd, Chris Yeates, Andy Gubb, Joe Holder, Andy Hall, Luke Webber. Ben Flatley, Guy Burns Subs: Sam Hutchings, James Browning, Mike Mullen (All Used)