Sam Beresford’s second hat trick of the season and commanding midfield performances from Henry Westlake and new signing Kieran Ireland delivered the perfect present for Clevedon Town to put them top of Toolstation Western League Premier at Christmas with a 4-2 win at Street on Friday night.

With league rivals Helston United and Bridgwater United watching on, the game was closer than the scoreline suggests, but this season Clevedon have the happy knack of scoring at the right time which this time helped them complete the double over a competitive Street side. After a cagey first half the game opened up in a fine attacking second period with both teams and the officials happy to let the game flow.

The first chance fell to Street after 10 minutes when a ball over the top caught Clevedon out at the back, but James Dunn was quickly out of his goal and did enough to force Alex Parsons to put his shot wide. There were chances for Town from Syd Camper, Freddie King and then a good tackle by Toby Stephens stopped Ireland in his tracks.

A Street break just after the half hour saw Hayer block two-goal bound shots but just before half time Clevedon grabbed the lead. King was tripped on the edge of the box and the free kick bounced awkwardly off keeper Jason Hutchinson’s chest and lightening reactions from ace goal poacher Beresford saw him tuck the ball home. Clevedon had to survive an almighty goalmouth scramble with the defence doing brilliantly to block shot after shot to preserve a narrow one goal lead at half time.

Clevedon went 2-0 ahead on 54 minutes when King picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and set up Beresford who couldn’t miss with Hutchinson out of position. Four minutes later it was three when a superb ball from Hayer found King free in the box and as Hutchinson came out, King controlled the ball and slipped it in wide of the covering defender into the corner of the net.

Clevedon suffered a setback on 63 minutes when Alex Parsons went over in the Clevedon box and the referee pointed to the spot. Dunn went the right way from Jake Mawford’s powerful spot kick but couldn’t prevent the ball going in.

Clevedon’s reaction was immediate and straight from the restart Harlee Vozza’s run down the right saw him lay the ball back to Beresford on the edge of the box and his early shot across the keeper ended up in the far corner of the net and Town were 4-1 up. It could have been more, but on 78 minutes Clevedon were caught on the break after losing the ball in midfield and Jacob Dickens, unmarked on the edge of the box, smashed the ball past Dunn.

With Street pressing forward Clevedon survived a nervy last 12 minutes plus five added minutes before the referee brought this entertaining Christmas match to an end.