HALSTEAD Town boss Mark McLean said it was a pleasure to see more than 800 fans packed into the Milbank Stadium as the Humbugs set a national record when they hosted Hashtag United on Saturday.

A sizeable travelling support added to a big home contingent made up a crowd of 833 that turned up to see the Thurlow Nunn League division one south's top two going head-to-head.

It was the highest attendance at any step six game around the country so far this season and while it was the visitors who were celebrating a 1-0 victory at the final whistle, McLean enjoyed the occasion.

“It was brilliant," he said.

“It’s what it’s all about and it’s what you want from a game of football.

“Hashtag were probably more used to it and that may have had something to do with it as they were more settled in that first half.

“That was a big crowd by anybody’s book and you can’t help but let it get to you a bit if you’re not used to it.

“Our first-half performance had a bit of nervousness attached to it and we’ll have learned from that a lot.

“The second half showed it didn’t matter how many people were here as we were concentrated on what we were doing.

“It was a pleasure to see so many people at the game but I just wish we’d been able to give them something to cheer about."

Despite it being a wonderful occasion for the club off the pitch, though, the defeat on it has dented Halstead's hopes of claiming the division one south title this year.

And McLean knows it is imperative that they now have a big finish from their final four games of the season, starting at third-placed White Ensign on Saturday.

He added: “We know what’s needed now – to win four games of football.

“It’s that simple.

“We have to go again on Saturday because it’s second against third now.

“Do I need to pick the players up for that?

“If I do then we have a problem but I know they will be OK.

“Had we beaten Hashtag then we may have been able to go to White Ensign and afford a draw but not anymore.

“We have to win.

“There's a long way to go and too much to play for.

“There are still 12 points to play for and we want 12 points now.

“It’s far from done.

“I know Hashtag have put themselves in a great place to win it but we have a lot to go for.

“Twelve points for us would be great and that would put us in a great place.

“We don’t know how many points are going to be needed so every point is crucial.

“I said before the game that it was one you didn’t want to lose but that wasn’t just for the result, it was about the momentum and the belief.

“There will be a lot of belief in Hashtag now and our boys will be raging, but they didn’t play badly.

“They will be disappointed with the first half because that’s where the game was ultimately lost, but they have too much about them to sit on it.

“We will get over it and go again."