MINEHEAD narrowly lost an enthralling and entertaining five-goal cup match away to Combe St Nicholas, whose solid spine and lively strikers just had the upper edge, but it could easily have gone either way.

The Blues showed better form after a sluggish start to the season, and welcoming back some previously unavailable players immediately gave them a far better shape throughout and showed they shouldn’t become this season’s whipping boys.

Early on, Luke Freeman’s pace got him free of the defence and, cutting into the box from wide, his shot troubled the home keeper.

After Aaron Ireton’s opener was ruled out for an infringement spotted by the official, the Blues, looking the more fluent of the sides for most of the first half, did take the lead when a deep cross was expertly put back into the mix by Guy Burns and, after Mike Graddon’s header had come back off the post, Felix Ndiomo slotted home.

Ireton was then cautioned for a late challenge after being subjected to one himself moments earlier.

In the second period, Minehead noticeably lost their edge, and the unity and strong running of the home side, driven well from midfield by Matty Brown, started to turn the game.

After steady pressure, a well-placed free-kick from Richard Hebditch levelled the scores, and shortly after a good move again involving Brown saw Sam McCaffrey shoot home past Sam Tarr to put the hosts 2-1 in front.

Minehead responded well, with Luke Freeman going close before a fine run and unstoppable right foot shot from Burns levelled the scores - a goal worthy of winning any match.

With the game and and tempers heating up, a follow through after a particularly solid challenge by the home centre half in Combe’s penalty box incensed the Blues and sparked incidents which spread to the half-way line, and the game then fell further apart from a disciplinary view.

Although both sides were guilty of showing their frustrations, the Blues can consider themselves slightly fortunate to finish the match with 11 personnel, with as many as three players going close to seeing red.

Combe’s winning goal came from McCaffrey close to the end, when Tarr was exposed by his defenders and, having been injured moments earlier when he bravely won a challenge in an identical piece of action, this time he hesitated and allowed the lively winger to beat him to the ball and win the tie.

The hosts will feel the margin could have been more comfortable, having hit the woodwork three times, but Minehead will rue several missed chances which could have put the game to bed while they were on top late in the first half.

Although a fourth defeat on the trot, this was comfortably Minehead’s best performance of the season against a team who in both of their victories against the blues this season, have fielded at least five players who would look comfortable a couple of steps up the pyramid.

Minehead: S Tarr, C Newbold, M Cracknell, S Lynch, M Mullen, M Graddon, L Bloys, A Ireton, F Ndiomo, L Freeman, G Burns, sub D Green (not used).1l

l Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the Blues back at Irnham Road, when unbeaten Burnham United make visit for their first-ever competitive match against them. Kick-off is at 3pm.