MINEHEAD boss Lee Todd says tomorrow’s home clash with Glastonbury is a ‘must-win’ following Wednesday night’s 5-0 home defeat by title-chasing Combe St Nicholas in Division One of the Somerset County League.

The two sides had only met four days earlier which saw Minehead secure an excellent 1-1 draw, but the hosts, missing three key players from Saturday, proved no match at the Irnham Road Recreation Ground.

The first fixture between the two saw the hosts take a first half lead as the striker rolled a defender before finishing past keeper Greg Turner from 15 yards, while at the other end before the break, attacker Toby Waghorn drew a good save from a similar distance.

Minehead were keeping Combe at arm’s length and levelled just after the hour as a brilliant free-kick from Tom Barnes was headed into the roof of the net by centre-half JJ Knight from six yards.

It was a result and performance Todd couldn’t hide his delight with as they look to stay away from trouble.

He said: “It was a great performance from us on Saturday in a game where we weren’t necessarily expecting anything from, as if they win their games in-hand they’ll win the league.

“But the overall team performance was superb and Tom Barnes was brilliant and deservedly our man-of-the-match from right wing-back.

“I was delighted with the boys’ attitude and they’re now taking on board what we’ve been asking of them.

“That said we still need to get some points on the board and make sure we’re tough to beat at home.”

On Wednesday night the visitors were two goals to the good inside 25 minutes, the first a header from a corner, before a penalty gave the town side a mountain to climb.

Combe failed to add anymore before the break, but after the restart continued from where they left off as they moved to within four points of leaders Portishead Town Reserves, but, crucially, with five games in-hand.

For Todd, it is now about preparing his side to face the side he made his managerial debut for Minehead against back in November when they ran out 3-0 winners.

Speaking on Thursday morning, he said: “On Wednesday night, they were just a lot better than us. They have a decent budget, some very good players and it showed against our young lads. They should go on to win the league and are the best team we’ve faced all season, so no complaints. However, we did give a debut to young striker Haiden Griffiths off the bench, and he did really well, so that was a positive.

“But we’ll quickly move on to Saturday which is now a ‘must-win’ game, and hopefully we should at least two out of the three back who were missing from Saturday in Toby Morris, Sam Jackson and Tom Barnes.”

MINEHEAD at Combe St Nicholas: Greg Turner; Harvey Lovell, JJ Knight, Louis Burge, Matty Ronan, Will Voss, Sam Jackson, Tom Barnes, Toby Morris, Toby Waghorn, Ollie Prescott. Subs: Dec Green, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Finley Haran, Guy Burns.

MINEHEAD v Combe St Nicholas: Greg Turner; Louis Burge, JJ Knight, Harvey Lovell; Fin Haran, Matty Ronan, Bertie Harvey-Larmar, Will Voss, Ollie Prescott; Guy Burns, Toby Waghorn. Subs: Dec Green, Hayden Griffiths, Lewis Breillat.