MINEHEAD travelled to Combe St Nicholas on New Years’ Eve and had to be content with a 2-2 draw in the Somerset County League Division One West.

Although without five regulars, they still had a line-up that should have been good enough to dispose of their lowly opposition.

Taking the play to their hosts from the first whistle, the Blues took the lead when their second penalty appeal in the opening ten minutes was successful, resulting in Stefan Phillips beating Alex Cunold from 12 yards after Guy Burns had been uprooted by the last defender.

Combe’s Liam Riste was presented with an opportunity, but having beaten keeper Sam Tarr from a central position, saw his lob go just over the bar.

Damion Redman, returning after a lengthy suspension, beat Cunold to a loose ball but slotted wide of the empty net, then after Riste had chipped just wide he levelled the scores just before half-time when he capitalised on a defensive slip.

The second half saw the home side having more of the ball, but Minehead remained dangerous, and with time sipping away Redman missed a golden opportunity to head home when well placed.

Even so, Max Smith’s late opportunist goal looked to have claimed all three points for the Blues, and they were unlucky not to make sure when a superbly worked move ended with Phillips’ 25-yard drive coming back into play off the angle of post and bar.

But victory wasn’t to be as in virtually the last attack of the match, Jamie Barfoot reacted quickest when Riste’s effort came back off the bar and he equalised from a few yards out.

Minehead: Sam Tarr, Matty Ronan, Andy Gubb, Chris Newbold, Matt Cracknell, Stefan Phillips, Harry Scatchard, Luke Howells, Damion Redman, Max Smith, Guy Burns, subs Callum Barnfield, Ali Harrison (both used), Nathan Sheehan.

l Minehead host well-placed Winscombe at Irnham Road tomorrow (Saturday), when both teams will be eager to improve their league positions with three points.

The two sides shared the points earlier in the season when an entertaining match finished 2-2 after a two-goal comeback from Redman and Smith was cancelled out by an equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time by a shot which was deflected over Sam Tarr. Kick-off is at 2pm.