Avid supporters of Clevedon’s first team should look away right now.

North Somerset Times: Clevedon captain Jake Lintott is beaten for pace (pic Jason Crane)Clevedon captain Jake Lintott is beaten for pace (pic Jason Crane) (Image: Archant)

There is no jubilation to be found currently, with only forlorn desolation the order of the day.

As readers of the Times will know, things have not been going too well for the West of England Premier League champions of late.

But even so, nothing prepared the vast travelling army of Clevedon's loyal supporters for the debacle of their eight-wicket defeat to Bedminster at the weekend.

Put into bat the visitors almost immediately found themselves reduced to 41-4 as pace partners Tom Price and Adrian Neill swept aside Clevedon's fragile top order.

North Somerset Times: John Bachelor in batting action for Clevedon (pic Jason Crane)John Bachelor in batting action for Clevedon (pic Jason Crane) (Image: Archant)

Skipper Jake Lintott, number three Connor Crane and number eight Will Thirkell all perished after making just 13, lucky for some you might say for the home attack was certainly delighted as the Clevedon batsmen spent little or no time out in the middle.

Debutant Adhan Mufti, finally permitted to take the field after being parked by the powers that be while waiting for visa problems to be resolved, top scored with 23 but seven batsmen failed to reach double figures and the innings was gently laid to rest at 105 with 21 overs left unused.

It was only thanks to 15 extras that Clevedon were able to edge into three figures.

Bedminster didn't hang about chasing their paltry target and it took them just 20 overs for the loss of two wickets to romp home long before tea had been prepared.

North Somerset Times: Will Carpenter in batting action for Clevedon (pic Jason Crane)Will Carpenter in batting action for Clevedon (pic Jason Crane) (Image: Archant)

There was very little in the way of high points, but one brilliant catch at cover by John Bachelor did raise flagging spirits for a while.

Heads soon dropped, though, as the hosts closed in and it was a forlorn squad that trudged off as stumps were drawn

So the current champions suddenly find themselves embroiled in a struggle to avoid relegation rather than challenge to retain their crown.

The season reaches the halfway stage this Saturday when title chasing Bath come to call but Jake Lintott and his squad will be more than ready for this crucial encounter so a major shock could be on the cards at Dial Hill.

League standings (eight matches): 1 Bath 133 pts; 2 Potterne 125; 3 Bridgwater 121; 4 Bedminster 117; 5 Downend 96; 6 Lansdown 96; 7 Clevedon 81; 8 Cheltenham 78; 9 Bristol 68; 10 Taunton St Andrews 58.