Taunton CS v Minehead A

Having suffered a first league defeat in 18 months against Taunton Vale the week before Taunton CS looked to kick on against Minehead A.

After a minor delay to let the thunder and lightening pass the game got underway with Minehead dominating the possession in the opening minutes. TCS were happy to soak up the pressure and wait for the opportunity to break and both sides were able to create some chances early on. Minehead were the team that were able to capitalise first and took the lead. Having fallen behind TCS took the game straight back to Minehead with a number of chances to equalise and within 10 minutes Ben Witt had set matters straight with a well taken chance as the ball broke to him within the D. The scores remained at 1-1 at the half time whistle.

The second half started with TCS best play of the game. Six precise passes took the ball from the edge of TCS' own D to Minehead where a short corner was promptly one. The resulting move allowed Simon Jones to put TCS in front for the first time in the game. The next 15 minutes saw TCS comfortably control the game and should have seen them increase their lead. Two acrobatic saves from the Minehead keeper and a "sprawling" miss from Lee Slade ensured the score remained at 2-1. However, the Minehead keeper having made two fantastic saves then allowed a weak shot along the ground from Fin Porter (for his first goal for the club) to hit the far corner and TCS took a healthy 3-1 lead going into the final quarter of the game.

With 6 minutes to go TCS conceded a short corner and Minehead got themselves back in the game with a straight shot from the top of the D. With the clock ticking at the game all but over TCS seemed to go into meltdown. Possession was given away far to easily and the team seemed to stand off the opposition allowing the Minehead players to press into the Taunton half. Before TCS had even recovered from the preceding short corner Minehead had equalised. With the game at 3-3 a point a piece would have been a fair result however again TCS allowed the Minehead midfield a near unchallenged run to the edge of the D, with challenges coming in too later the resulting scramble resulted in the ball breaking loose at the far post and an unmarked Minehead forward to tap the ball over the line right on the final whistle.

TCS were left shell shocked as to how a 3-1 lead evaporated so quickly and also at the manner in which they allowed it too happen! With the score at 3-1 the game should have been "put to bed" and in a tougher league than last year it is something that can not be repeated.

Team was as follows; Miles Cave (GK), Jason Harris, Harry Elsmore, Ali Johnston (c), Ben Caile, Simon Jones (1), James Coles, Ben Witt (1), Jesse Mooney, Lee Slade, Mark Sawyer, Toron Everett and Fin Porter (1). M.O.M James Coles, D.O.D Lee Slade.