Bridgwater Town 1, Clevedon Town 4 (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Bridgwater Town 1, Clevedon Town 4

4:50pm Tuesday 31st August 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

TOWN slipped to their third defeat in four league games at Fairfax Park on Bank Holiday Monday as an ordinary Clevedon Town side were made to look good by some inept defending writes Brian Austin.

Clevedon were the first to look dangerous as Kyle O' Donovan had a shot deflected over the bar in the first minute and at the other end, Graham Mercieca just failed to get his shot on target.

Town came more into the game and Bradley Middleton saw his shot just clear the bar after 12 minutes.

Naby Diallo had a shot deflected wide and Neil Peek headed just wide from a corner.

At the other end, Luke Buckingham saved twice from Clevedon’s man-of-the-match Ashley Kington, but he could do nothing to stop the visitors’ opener on 22 minutes, when an unmarked Lewis Ellis smashed home a cross from the left.

Buckingham’s good save prevented Ellis making it two six minutes later, but Clevedon did double their lead on 38 minutes, when Kington fired home a free-kick from 25 yards.

Two minutes later, defender Matt Thorne made it three, finishing easily from ten yards after Town’s defence fell apart.

Any chance of a come-back ended just before half-time, when Town’s captain Matt Pitcher was dismissed following a reckless challenge.

Town’s ten men fought bravely in the second half, and Mackay forced keeper Mellor to save with his legs following good work from Diallo, who then set up Kenny for another chance, but he fired wide.

Two substitutes combined to pull one back for Bridgwater with 30 minutes left – Carl Jones brilliantly setting up Jamie Howson, who finished coolly.

The impressive Jones nearly pulled another goal back from a Diallo cross. Clevedon were then reduced to ten men when Adam Mahdi was sent off with seven minutes left following an off-the-ball clash with Middleton, before O’Donovan finished off matters with Clevedon’s fourth.

Town have a two-week break from league action due to the withdrawal of Bromsgrove Rovers from the league, and they must use that time to iron out their defensive lapses.

Town's next game will be away to Truro City in the FA Cup next Saturday week.

Team: Buckingham (9) Bailey (6) Pitcher (5) Peek (6) Middleton (6) Lyons (7) Mercieca (6) Robertson (7) Diallo (8) Mackay (6) Kenny (6).

Subs used: Jones, Howson, Snook.

Referee Alan Bird (6).