A predictably poor pitch contributed to an equally poor game as the Seasiders fell to a disappointing defeat in their top of the table clash at Torpoint. The home team’s direct and aggressive approach was more suited to the conditions, and they dominated the first half without creating anything until they grabbed the lead in first half added time.

Although the Seasiders had much more of the game in the second half, they never looked like getting back into the game with the big Torpoint defence dealing with everything thrown at them.

The writing was on the wall early on when James Wakefield was caught trying to play out from the back, but Steve Kingdon came to the rescue, Wakefield recovered to block the follow-up and Glen Hayer finally headed clear.

Clevedon were forced to rely on breaks and Henry Westlake on his return from Larkhall Athletic threaded Sam Beresford through only to be thwarted by a late flag. Jacob Sloggett was brought down as he burst forward, and Harry Haughton put the resulting free-kick wide.

On 25 minutes Dave Thorne beat two men and tried to pick out Charlie Saunders, but the ball was cleared. Two speedy runs by Oscar Bridgman down the right came to nothing, the second after he was clattered into the hoardings, earning a yellow card tor Torpoint skipper Elliott Crawford.

The game became increasingly scrappy and disjointed but Torpoint continued to dominate possession relying on sweeping long balls forward and keeping the pressure on with a series of set pieces.

One cross saw Tom Payne head the ball back into the area which Steve Kingdon cleared on the line and then Kingdon headed away another cross from the right.

Just before half time Rikki Shepherd shot high and wide before Torpoint finally found the net in added time. A low corner on the right was flicked on by Curtis Damerell at the front post and Dave Barker claimed the final touch at the back post.

The lead was almost doubled 6 minutes into added time when Payne’s free-kick was cleared by Hayer for a corner which was clipped back to Payne for a shot well saved by James Dunn.

The first chance of the second half saw Dunn save again after Payne’s cross was hit first time by Barker, but Clevedon gradually began to get more of the ball. Another good run and cross by Bridgman was cleared by Darren Hicks for a corner which was returned by Sloggett for Hayer to head back across the area but with nobody able to take advantage.

Just after the hour Clevedon replaced Bridgman with Seb Scott whose first touch was to fire in a free-kick hammered away by Payne for a corner which keeper Ryan Rickard punched away from Hayer’s challenge

At the other end, Crawford’s free-kick flew across the Clevedon area, substitute Joe Rapson misfired with one shot from a Barker cross and then put a second just wide. Just after, Rickard saved easily from Sloggett after he created space for a shot and then punched away a Jamie King cross.

A couple of Scott crosses came to nothing, and a long Tyler Manning throw was put out for a corner. As the clock ticked past the 90 minutes there was one last chance for Town when Rickard punched Scott’s corner clear and was in the right place to safely gather Beresford’s lob back
in and it became increasingly obvious that the Seasiders were going to come away empty handed.

The final score of Torpoint Athletic 1 Clevedon Town 0 saw the home side creep within 2 points of Town at the top but still with 4 games in hand.

Seasiders Player of the Match: Steve Kingdon - stood up to the Torpoint physical pressure and made some vital blocks

Clevedon Town Line-up:

1. James Dunn (c)
2. Oscar Bridgman
3. Dave Thorne
4. Glen Hayer
5. Steve Kingdon
7. Jacob Sloggett
8. Charlie Saunders
9. Sam Beresford
12. Henry Westlake
16. Harry Haughton
17. James Wakefield

6. Callum Kingdon
13. Tyler Manning replaced Dave Thorne on 85 minutes
18. Seb Scott replaced Oscar Bridgman on 62 minutes
19. Harrison Coker replaced Henry Westlake on 85 minutes
20. Jamie King replaced Harry Haughton on 71 minutes