Two early goals by Cheddar were enough to take all the points against Portishead.

Cheddar 2

Portishead Town 1

Urged on by an enthusiastic Saturday morning crowd, Cheddar hosted Portishead Town as part of the Toolstation Western League ‘ground hop’ weekend and the spectators were treated to a game full of attacking football.

The Cheesemen went two goals in front inside the first 15 minutes, but Portishead came back strongly in the second half as the home side cemented their fifth place league position.

Starting the match in express fashion, Callum Ham tested Fraser Meldrum in the Portishead goal with a terrific shot in the opening minute, and from the rebound Adam Jones fired over the crossbar.

Cheddar’s opening burst saw them take the lead on five minutes, when Ham hit a brilliant dipping shot from all of 25 yards after Mark Armstrong’s equally clever assist.

Ham’s brilliant opener was almost repeated just 60 seconds later, with Meldrum rooted to the spot, Billy Vaughan’s scorching 25-yarder skimming inches wide of the far post.

The Cheesemen deservedly doubled their lead on 15 minutes when Joe Grant’s long throw catching the Town defence flat-footed, and with Jones pressurising the keeper, the ball broke loose and Vaughan hit home from the tightest of angles.

Jones then twice went close with powerful headers from Chris Coombs free kicks before Coombs himself was denied a goal by a brilliant goal-line clearance.

The visitors reduced the arrears on 52 minutes when Luke Mortimer’s deflected shot looped over Liam Kingston and into the far corner of the net.

Town went close to equalising late on as Callum Townsend’s 22-yard effort fizzed just wide of the target, but it was the home side who nearly snatched two late goals, substitute Robbi Maggs and a Vaughan effort going just wide.

Cheddar travel to second-placed Hengrove Athletic on Saturday, before they return to action at Bowdens Park on Tuesday when they face Wellington Town (7.45pm).

On Saturday, Cheddar were presented with the Toolstation Western League Division One sportsmanship award, manager Jared Greenhalgh receiving the award on behalf of the club.

Cheddar 3

Calne Town 0

Cheddar bounced back from the 2-0 defeat at league leaders Keynsham with an emphatic 3-0 victory over their Wiltshire visitors.

Cheddar strongly with Tom Manning and Chris Coombs going close, before taking the lead on the half-hour when Adam Jones netted after Manning had hit the post.

Jones completed his hat-trick when he chased a loose ball, rounded a defender and keeper before slotting the ball into the empty net.