The Seasiders made light of four enforced changes and a slippery pitch putting in a hardworking display to outfox the Foxes of Brislington and record a comfortable 3-0 win thanks to a Freddie King hat-trick and a clean sheet. The changes worked seamlessly and featured an eye catching performance from James Wakefield who returned from Exeter University for his first start since July.

After conceding five goals in each of two previous games against the Seasiders this season, Brislington started brightly and fired a number of crosses into the Clevedon box. Clevedon looked to take advantage on the break and a Callum Kingdon ball fell for Lucas Vowles who sent Oscar Bridgman down the line to win a corner which was cleared.

Clevedon continued to break quickly, George King put a free-kick over the bar and Wakefield hit a raking ‘Glen Hayer’ type pass up to Vowles for a cross which whizzed across the area with nobody getting a touch. Another break saw Freddie King brought down with nothing coming from the free-kick, but in the next attack on 16 minutes another foul on Harrison Coker just inside the box saw the referee point to the spot.

With regular penalty taker Alex Camm missing, leading scorer Freddie King stepped up to take the spot kick which Brislington keeper Jordan Schofield dived to push away but King reacted quickest to follow up and put the ball in the net to give Town the lead.

Brislington went looking for a quick response and Joel Smith hit a good chance straight to James Dunn and Jude McCarthy did the same after a good build-up down the right, but soon Clevedon were looking dangerous again.

Another Wakefield pass sent Bridgman clear down the right, but the hard working Vowles just failed to reach the final cross, then Syd Camper powered forward to find Vowles whose shot was blocked with Schofield saving Freddie King’s follow-up after a clever run into the box.

Just before the half hour Schofield produced his best save yet, tipping Freddie King’s free-kick from the edge of the box over the bar as the ball headed for the top corner. Brislington though were relying on bits and pieces. Oaklan Buck’s cross eluded Dunn but went behind harmlessly for a corner and Jordan Scadding shot wide.

Clevedon needed a second before half time and there was an element of good fortune to it when it finally came on 39 minutes. McCarthy blocked a Clevedon attack at the expense of a corner on the left, which Freddie King took and with the ball skidding along the ground towards the near post both Schofield and McCarthy left it for each other and the ball just about crept inside the post to double Town’s lead.

To their credit Brislington reacted positively and a good Kingdon tackle stopped Scadding. From the resulting corner Joe McLennan’s cross was tipped over by Dunn for another corner which Dunn also punched clear, so the half time score remained Foxes 0 Seasiders 2.

After a quiet start to the second half Bridgman failed to find the target when he fell as he shot and a good build up between the home side’s Jordan Ricketts and Buck saw Wakefield head the ball clear. Two great balls by Wakefield, first to Sam Beresford who saw Danny Barwood get in the way of his shot and then to put Coker through to win a corner which came to nothing. Clevedon almost got caught by a long Brislington clearance which found Buck in space, but he put his shot wide.

Clevedon upped the pace again with Vowles in the thick of things, firstly robbing Asa White to send in Freddie King only for Schofield to clear, Camper set up Vowles on halfway for an ambitious lob which missed the target and then Freddie King stood on the ball after Vowles picked him out in the area again. King then turned provider for substitute Harrison Kyte whose shot was charged down.

Clevedon finally made the pressure count on 77 minutes when Vowles played the ball to Kyte in the box to cross for Freddie King to flick the ball past Schofield for his second hat-trick of the season and make it 3-0 to the Seasiders.

There was still time for both sides to create late chances though. Alfie Clark shot wide, former Seasider Ash Kington put a shot over and in added time Ricketts headed wide for the home side, but the best chance fell to Clevedon with a minute to go. Vowles picked out Freddie King again only for his shot to canon back off the bar to Vowles who put the follow-up over and a final score of Brislington 0 Clevedon Town 3.

Seasiders Player of the Match: Freddie King’s hat-trick the icing on the cake of a fine team performance and a special mention for James Wakefield

Clevedon Town Line-up:

1. James Dunn
2. Oscar Bridgman
3. Syd Camper (c)
4. Harrison Coker
5. James Wakefield
6. Callum Kingdon
7. Cam Steer
8. Alex Camm
9. Lucas Vowles
10. Freddie King - Goals on 16, 39, and 77 minutes
11. Sam Beresford

12. James Tait replaced Cam Steer on 82 minutes
14. Henry Westlake replaced Harrison Coker on 73 minutes
15. Harrison Kyte replaced Sam Beresford on 73 minutes
16. Sam Ledward replaced Henry Westlake on 58 minutes