1st XI Vs Bristol University C

Minehead: 4

Bristol University C: 4

Minehead travelled to Bristol University in the Verde Recro Hockey league on Saturday 19th October coming from behind 4 times to take a draw.

Minehead started off stronger than the hosts having most of the possession in the opening passages of play, Bristol University managed to keep out an array of attacks from the Minehead front line which has scored 20 goals in the first 3 games of the season.

Minehead kept looking to score with Nick Bennett coming the closest when some slack defending combined with some good passing from Minehead allowed Bennett to break through one on one, only to be denied by a good save from the Bristol Keeper. Bristol grew into the game and took the lead after a quick counterattack and excellently taken tomahawk shot.

Minehead looked to bounce back quickly and to regain control of the game, quickly equalising when some quick thinking from Weetch set up Alex Covey whose powerful shot found the bottom corner past a diving Keeper which meant the teams went into the break level.

After half time Bristol came out the stronger of the two teams and quickly re-took the lead again after a counter attack which lead to Minehead being short at the back and a good double save from Wilson in goal wasn’t enough as Bristol eventually got the ball over the line. Minehead hit back through Marsh who continued his rich rain of scoring form when he was first to react to another Alex Covey shot, putting the ball into the roof of the net.

Minehead continued to press high in search of taking the lead for the first time in the game. Which unfortunately didn’t come as Bristol re-took the lead this time coming from an excellently worked short corner which left the Minehead defence with no chance of stopping it.

Minehead hit back again after some good work down the right-hand side through Garwood and Chris Weetch had the Bristol defence leaving gaps which Marsh took advantaged of and calmly scored his second of the game again from close range.

Bristol took the lead for the final time after some indifferent decision from the home umpires lead to Minehead being on the back foot and leaving keeper Wilson in no-man’s land as Bristol tapped in from close range at the back post.

Captain Buller decided with 5 minutes left a change of formation by putting Hill up front looking for an equalising goal, this came with 2 minutes left when a long ball from Buller found Hill he broke though the Bristol defence and putting a cross finding James Weetch who calmly slotted the ball home from short range.

After an entertaining game it finally finished 4-4.

Minehead host Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday 26th October 14:00 at West Somerset College Sports Centre, where they’ll be looking to get back to winning ways.

Minehead & District Social Club Man of the Match: Robbie Garwood

Minehead: Freddie Wilson, Nick Hill, Ian Jeanes, Andrew Covey Taylor Buller, Nick Jones, Chris Weetch, Mark Bolton, James Weetch, Archie Marsh, Nick Bennett, Nev Weir, Alex Covey. Robbie Garwood.