Town slip up in basement battle

Clevedon Town 0

Bedford Town 3

CLEVEDON Town entertained fellow strugglers Bedford Town but put in a disappointing performance as they lost and let their rivals leapfrog them in the table, leaving them in trouble in 20th place.

Ellis Wilmot and Craig Loxton returned to the starting eleven, as Tom Billing and Aaron Blakemore dropped to the bench.

On a wet afternoon Clevedon started brightly as Joey Evans had his shot blocked. But the visitors then took over with Craig Daniel twice going close, and Gary Colborne clearing off the Seasiders' line.

It was no surprise when Bedford took the lead on 24 minutes as a neat one-two with a back-heel put Ian Draycott through on goal and he beat Danny Greaves with a powerful shot. Minutes later Greavsie had to be alert to stop another shot from Draycott.

Clevedon finally got going in the last 15 minutes of the half as Danny Wring had a shot smothered by Eagles' keeper Mike Armitt, Evans had a decent shout for a penalty denied by referee Marc Whaley from Plymouth, and Lee Molyneaux's half-volley from a Wring corner was charged down.

As the second half got under way Clevedon failed to keep the initiative and Bedford again took total control as Draycott first fired a shot wide and then sent in a cross-come-lob which hit the top of the Seasiders' bar. Josh Brigham and Craig Loxton put shots wide before the ever-dangerous Draycott again forced a great save from Greaves.

On 73 minutes Bedford's pressure resulted in a second goal as the ball rebounded off a Clevedon defender to that man Draycott who buried his shot in the back of the net. Greaves made another point-blank save from Jamie Cole, and Cole should have scored soon after when he blasted wide when well placed.

But Draycott had the last word when he completed his hat-trick on 87 minutes as a cross was headed down and he beat Greaves with the aid of a deflection off a defender.

The next game at the Hand Stadium will be on Saturday, December 12, v Rugby Town, kick-off 3pm.