14/11/15: With the tail end of storm Abigail blowing heavy rain across Norton Hill, Mendip’s task against fellow promotee and familiar adversary Weston-Super-Mare was not made any easier on Saturday but the hosts took on the challenge with their usual vigour and enthusiasm against their highly dangerous opponent.
Now despite their precarious position in the league Mendip have been playing well enough and therefore started the match with a defiant unity, passing the ball around with confidence and searching for an early opportunity. However, to Mendip’s disappointment it was the visitors who opened the scoring from their very first short corner when a powerful shot struck the backboard. The hosts were soon back on level terms again though as good link up play between midfield and forwards allowed man-of-the-match Will Lawton to find space in the D to prod home from close range. Weston were a constant threat going forward and despite Woody’s best efforts to patrol the area in front of the back three, at times Mendip’s defence looked decidedly vulnerable and it was not long before the visitors took the lead, this time from a penalty stroke. The Mendip midfield were not phased and played with a strength and determination and they were rewarded when Josh Sutton equalised, giving the whole team a lift and belief that perhaps they could get a result from the match. However, Weston had the final word in the half when they fair ripped through the fragile defence and an unmarked forward fired into an empty goal to take a 3 – 2 lead into the break.
In the second half the Weston midfield continued to dominate and their speed and movement going forward was creating numerous opportunities that forced Mendip to defend in numbers. However, eventually the hosts had to yield and the 4th goal was conceded.
When in possession Mendip did play with individual skill and flair but their 3rd goal was a real team effort as the ball was played out of defence and a quick pass released Oli down the left. His strong run took him into the danger zone where he picked out Josh who narrowed the gap once again to a single goal. Now every player in the Mendip team was working extremely hard to keep Weston at bay, none more so than Giles in the heart of defence who was having a right royal battle with the big centre forward but despite everyone’s efforts the visitors regained a two goal cushion from a well worked short corner. The game was beginning to get stretched from end to end and even though one sensed that Weston had the upper hand they simply could not dampen Mendip’s spirits who battled on regardless until Oli rounded off a superb performance with a well-deserved goal to make it 5 – 4. Having worked so hard to get back into the match Mendip threw caution to the wind and pressed forward in search of another goal but unfortunately only succeeded in leaving themselves too exposed at the back and the swift counter attack left Leigh Taylor isolated, conceding a penalty stroke to make it 6 – 4. That more or less sealed Mendip’s fate and their cavalier play in the closing stages afforded Weston a further 2 goals as Leigh twice found himself in a 2-on-1 situation with no chance of making a save.
Although this was Mendip’s heaviest defeat of the season and at times they were thoroughly outplayed by a very accomplished team they can go into next week’s bottom of the table clash at least knowing they are playing reasonably well and scoring goals.
The team was: Leigh Taylor, Ben Beechener, Giles Denning, Andy Flint (Capt.), Oli Beechener, Josh Sutton, Pete Waddington, Will Lawton, Andy Wood, Liam Young and Steve Smith.
Thanks to Hayley Young and Vicky Parfitt for umpiring.
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