Zamaretto Southern League

Didcot Tn 0, Clevedon Tn 1

DIDCOT Town squandered the chance to pull clear of the drop zone with a lacklustre defeat against fellow strugglers Clevedon Town in the Premier Division.

The first half was a story of Didcot having most of the possession, but no end product, while Clevedon were far more incisive on the break.

Didcot keeper Matt Trott was the one player who was in form to ensure a goalless opening period.

He made good saves to keep out well-directed headers from Chris Hartland and Ollie Barnes, produced a block when Jason Cowan was put straight through on goal after sloppy defending and tipped a drive from Craig Loxton around a post that otherwise would have found the bottom corner.

It took nearly an hour for Didcot to register a shot at goal, Mark Draycott’s drive missing the top left-hand corner.

With 17 minutes left, the visitors went in front when substitute Phil Hartnup darted in from the right.

He set up Phil Michael, who, in turn rolled the ball to Hartland to apply a simple finish.

Didcot could not conjure up a telling response, and Clevedon could have doubled their lead in the closing stages when Hartland’s superb 40-yard effort beat Trott, but just cleared the bar.

Didcot Tn: Trott, Sampson, Tabor (Hopkins 59), A Williams, Stanley, Heapy, John (M Williams 66), Alexis, Draycott, Mortimer-Jones (Bartley 59), Dutton-Black.

Attendance: 157.