BUCKLAND ATHLETIC 2 CLEVEDON TOWN 4

If Seasiders Manager Alex White was looking for a positive reaction after the FA vase defeat at Southall, he certainly got it at Buckland as Town dominated the first half. Then in the second period when they gave away two sloppy goals, they bounced back each time to maintain their two-goal advantage.

Town were boosted by a stunning goal of the season effort from central defender and ex-striker Ollie Babington after 14 minutes. A Clevedon attack was cleared to Babington 45 yards out on the right touchline and his outside of the boot volley flew over stunned Buckland keeper Andy Collings into the top corner.

Afterwards a delighted Babington said, ‘A few minutes earlier I saw the keeper likes to come out a bit and when I saw him off his line again, I just decided to go for a long-range shot. I felt it as soon as I hit it and it was one of those that was going to be close, but it was almost like watching it in slow motion with the angle and the distance. But no, I’ve never hit anything sweeter than that in my life.’

After JJ Evans put the home side’s first chance wide, a flowing move involving Elliot Nicholson, Archie Ferris and Cameron Salmon ended when Freddie King’s raking cross was just too far in front of the diving Syd Camper. After Evans put another shot wide, Clevedon continued to dominate and just after the half hour they increased their lead with another great move. Babington played the ball down the right and right back Nicholson cut into the box, beat two defenders, and slotted a rare left foot shot past Collings for his first goal of the season.

A modest Nicholson agreed he too had probably never scored a better goal but said, ‘They were playing a high line and when I cut inside the full back to try and cross it just opened up for me, so I just had a swing at it with my left foot and it went in.’

Straight from the restart it took a combination of Owen Price, Fraser Clark and Louis Edmondson to stop Freddie King and then just before half-time Salmon and King exchanged passes to set up Camper who put his shot just wide and Clevedon’s lead remained 2-0 at half-time.

At the start of the second half anther great ball from Babington saw Ferris’ shot blocked before Town were caught napping at the back on 54 minutes. A long far post cross from the right by Rhys Fuller saw fellow full back Owen Price head towards goal and Ryan Bush’s air shot seemed to wrong-foot the defence and keeper Luca Smith, and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

A minute later confident Clevedon restored their two-goal cushion, and this time Fuller was involved at the wrong end, when his misdirected clearance from Osmond’s free-kick went back across the goal and Ferris smashed the loose ball past Collings into the net.

Clevedon looked to build on their lead and King and Salmon twice saw shots cleared so it was against the run of play when Buckland broke and scored again as the Town defence stood off and allowed Josh Webber a free run across the edge of the box and slip the ball past Smith’s outstretched arm.

Town responded by bringing on Sam Iles for Camper and pushed Alex Kemsley forward on 66 minutes and two minutes later the move worked. Osmond’s corner saw Collings make a great one-handed save from a Ferris header, but the ball fell to Kemsley who had time to control it and score his first Seasiders goal.

This time Clevedon were content to see out the game with only half chances for Clark and Webber and a good block by substitute Archie Heywood to worry about and they sealed a deserved 4-2 win on the road.

Manager Alex White was delighted, saying ‘we said we wanted a reaction after last week’s Vase defeat, and we were good today. We also thought Buckland might suffer a potential Vase headache after their win, but we had to make it happen. We took the positives from the Vase run and it was a very high tempo game and end to end at times. But even when they got their goals back it still felt comfortable, and we came back strongly each time, as you’ve got to. We thoroughly deserved it today - we scored some good goals and put some good passes together. Our away form is good, and I really enjoyed a great game today as I’m sure we all did.’

Another difficult choice for Seasider’s Man of the Match with some outstanding individual efforts in a great team display, but it has to go to Ollie Babingon, not just for his once in a lifetime goal but also for the rest of his performance.

Clevedon Town Man of the Match: Ollie Babington

Clevedon Town line-up:

1. Luca Smith
2. Elliot Nicholson - Goal on 32 minutes
3. Alex Kemsley - Goal on 68 minutes
4. Callum Kingdon
5. Ollie Babington - Goal on 14 minutes
6. Glen Hayer
7. Syd Camper
8. Mitch Osmond
9. Archie Ferris (c) - Goal on 56 minutes
10. Cameron Salmon
11. Freddie King

12. Archie Heywood replaced Ollie Babington on 80 minutes
14. Morgan Davies
15. Sam Iles replaced Syd Camper on 66 minutes
16. Alex Camm
17. Ethan Feltham replaced Freddie King on 84 minutes