Toolstation League Division 1: Hengrove Athletic 3, Minehead 1.

MINEHEAD assistant-manager Mick Armitage was full of praise for his young side despite suffering their seventh straight league defeat at title-chasing Hengrove.

He claimed the Blues held their own against the highflying hosts and deserved a draw but, once again, missed chances and lapses in concentration were to blame.

Armitage, standing in for manager Steve Perkins, said: "We keep saying it and it might sound silly as we're on a bad run of results, but the players were a credit to the club again.

"We took a squad of 12 players with a couple carrying injuries to play one of the top sides in the division, and we should have won at least a point.

"It was the same old story of missed chances and silly little mistakes that cost us.

"I'm not just blaming the strikers for not scoring goals or the defence for conceding, we have to cut out the basic errors all over the field.

"But I can't be too critical of the side. They gave me commitment, 110% effort and a good team performance. Our centre backs Chris Yates and Greg Howard were outstanding for us."

Hengrove took an early lead when Ricky Charlton was sent clear and rounded Adam Jones to score, despite Minehead appealing for off-side.

The rest of the half was an even affair with Lee Todd and Lee Smythe both going close for Minehead. And they were a whisker away from levelling when Guy Burns' powerful shot looked to be heading in, but deflected off a defender and trickled just wide.

And they suffered the sucker blow 15 minutes into the second half when Steve Ratcliffe was given too much space by the Minehead defence to score the second.

The Blues hit back soon after when Greg Howard forced the ball home after the Hengrove keeper failed to gather a corner.

But, as Minehead pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Marcus Maggs scored the third to put the result beyond doubt.

Minehead: Adam Jones, Gareth John, Chris Yates, Greg Howard, Andrew Gubb, Andy Hall, Adam Sparks, James Browning, Guy Burns, Lee Smythe, Lee Todd. Sub: Luke Taylor.

LAST Wednesday, Minehead suffered their heaviest defeat of the season as they went down 8-1 at Sherborne Town. The Blues travelled with the bare 11, including two carrying injuries, but took an early lead when Simon Lyons fired home from distance.

But it was all downhill from there goals from Tony Cunningham (3), Steve Burton, Andy Martin, Sam Jarman, Jimmy O'Brien, and Steve McDaid took Sherborne up to second.