ILMINSTER Town manager Darren Manley says his side ‘must work harder’ or face up to the very real possibility of relegation from Somerset County Premier.

Manley was highly critical of his side’s work rate as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat at home to Watchet on Saturday – and the manager pulled few punches about his side’s performance.

Manley said: “To be honest, we didn’t work hard enough. It was like a Sunday stroll out there.

“The main difference between the two sides was that they worked a lot harder than we did.

“It was very disappointing, purely because of the work rate, it just wasn’t there. The lads need to realise that we they have got to work harder or we are going to be relegated. That’s the bare facts of it all.

“It feels like some of them have given up on it, which is disappointing. We need three wins really now, or we’ll be relegated – it’s simple.”

Charlie Rutter and Andrew Whitefield scored Ilminster’s goals, but they were of little consolation to manager Manley.

He added: “We could have been out there all week and we wouldn’t have got anything from it.”

This Saturday Ilminster host ninth-placed Berrow (3pm).

Ilminster: Lewis, L Paul, May, Tratt, Towell, Lazenby, Lock, Gilman, Whitefield, A Paul, Rutter.