The Seasiders Under 18s with the usual host of new players in the squad at the beginning of the season made a promising start to their campaign with a 2-0 win in a very even and competitive friendly against a strong Bath City Under 18 side at a wet Everyone Active Stadium.

In an even opening both teams went about sounding each other out and it became a good contest between 2 players already playing Western League football, Town’s Sol Kent and City keeper Alfie Kelsey who is a regular at Welton Rovers. Despite Kent proving to be a constant danger down the left Kelsey was equal to everything that was thrown at him.

Clevedon missed an early chance to take the lead and just after the half hour Reuben Gager picked out Kent, but Kelsey saved at the expense of a corner. Kent was then wide following a Kayden Howarth free-kick and when Howarth finally got the better of Kelsey his shot from a narrow angle was cleared off the line.

With the rain pouring down after half time the game opened up. Bath Substitute Mason Alden’s shot looked to be going in the top corner but drifted just wide and at the other end Gager’s powerful shot after a great turn was pushed round by the keeper at full stretch.

On 76 minutes Clevedon came close again when Jack Burdge won the ball in midfield and sent Howarth through, but this time the keeper’s legs saved the day. Not to be out done, in the next attack Will Wall crashed a shot from distance against the post and the rebound fell to Howarth who did well to control his shot to give the Seasiders the lead.

Bath pushed forward for an equaliser and Town keeper Josh Jenkins was out quick to deny Noah Turner and a lung bursting covering run by Louie Farrow cut out a quick City break down the left. A City free-kick on the edge of the box also came to nothing when Cori Brewer’s shot went round the wall but straight into the arms of Jenkins.

Then having found his feet, Town substitute Omar Alrawi set about making an impact on the game regularly getting round the back of the Bath defence down the right but with only a couple of corners to show for his efforts. However, Clevedon finally doubled their lead in the last minute of normal time with another long shot, this time from Adam Hodgetts, which substitute City keeper Joe Harper allowed to slip through his fingers and roll slowly over the line.

Clevedon then dominated a clearly deflated Bath side in the nine minutes of added time, with Alrawi again prominent down the right, Sam German seeing a shot cleared and from the resulting corner, Stan Irving sent a towering header just wide. Maybe an element of fortune in the two goals that went in but all in all this was a very satisfying win for the young Seasiders, Clevedon Town 2 Bath City 0.

Clevedon Town Under 18 Line-Up:

1. Josh Jenkins
2. Jack Burdge (replaced by Reuben Gager on 81 minutes)
3. Stan Irving
4. Adam Hodgetts - Goal on 90 minutes
5. Josh Pike
6. Louie Farrow
7. Kayden Howarth - Goal on 77 minutes
8. Charlie Thornton
9. Reuben Gager
10. Riley Griffiths (replaced by Stan Irving on 87 minutes)
11. Sol Kent

12. Sam German replaced Sol Kent on 62 minutes
13. Logan McKenzie replaced Reuben Gager on 65 minutes
14. James Tait
15. Harry Blackburn
16. Will Wall replaced Charlie Thornton on 62 minutes
17. Kian Coumbe replaced Stan Irving on 65 minutes
18. Omar Alrawi replaced Josh Pike on 65 minutes