1st XI Vs South Glos

Central 2

Minehead: 3

South Gloucester: 0

Minehead travelled to South Gloucester hockey club at the weekend in a top of the table clash which saw first place play second, a must win for both teams to secure their positions in the league.

Minehead started the stronger of the two sides and had most of the possession in the opening 10 minutes, with the front line of Luke Barker, Jos and Nick Bennett creating some good chances but not finding the back of the net. Minehead got the breakthrough midway through the first half when a long ball from the back saw Jos Bennett breakthrough the defence and score with a well taken goal from an acute angle.

Minehead got a second with some quick play from Luke Barker and Jos Bennett down the Minehead left hand side, leading to a good through ball to Nev Weir who put the ball into the top corner past the Keeper to extend Minehead lead just before the half time whistle with his first goal of the season, playing his maiden game as a forward for the 1’s.

Minehead once again started the second half the stronger of the two teams and looked to increase their lead but the home defence held strong and they grew into the second half. With South Gloucester looking to get into the game and mounting a series of attacks pinning the Minehead team well into their own half, Minehead had some ill-discipline which saw Ian Jeanes being sin-binned for some reckless challenges, Nick Hill shortly followed to the sin-bin for a professional foul.

During the brief period that Minehead were down to 9 players, South Glos tried unsuccessfully to find a breakthrough, thanks to keeper Freddie Wilson with some fines saves to keep the opposition at bay to keep his 4th clean sheet of the year.

With Minehead back to a full complement of players on the pitch, they looked to increase their lead and seal the victory. The 3rd goal came when Minehead were awarded a short corner on the stroke of the final whistle, after some good work again from Barker, then with Nick Jones completing an excellent performance with a well-placed shot past the despairing south Gloucester keeper to round of the victory.

Minehead host Bristol University on Saturday 1st February at 14:00 at West Somerset College Sports Centre Astro.

Minehead & District Social Club Man of the Match: Nick Jones

Minehead: Freddie Wilson, Taylor Buller, Nev Weir, Ian Jeanes, Rob Speed, Nick Jones, Nick Hill, Nick Bennett, Jos Bennett, James Weetch, Mark Bolton, Angus Marsh, Luke Barker