Toolstation Western League: Clevedon Town 0-0 Wellington AFC

Driven forward by Joe Teall in midfield, the Seasiders produced a much improved performance from last week, but once again failed to find the back of the net and had to be content with a goalless draw against a dogged home side.

Amazingly Town created as many chances as in the 5-0 home win against the same opponents, but it was a different story this time where both keepers dealt with everything thrown at them.

Early on Brad Probert slipped as he shot and, on the break, Sully Mckenna picked out Nathan Byrne but Callum Kingdon was across to stop the shot. Clevedon created a great chance on 24 minutes when Caleb Selway’s searching ball picked out Vozza down the right, but his cross was scuffed wide by Freddie King.

Clevedon thought they should have had a penalty on 34 minutes when King was felled in the area by a strong challenge which the referee deemed was fair. On the break Sam Towler’s powerful long shot flew wide for Wellington.

Clevedon were even closer on 40 minutes when Joe Teall found Beresford in the box to control the ball on his chest and shoot on the turn which had keeper Jake Viney scrambling across his goal to save.  King and Teall saw efforts cleared then just before half time Teall appeared to be pushed in the back in the box but again the referee waved away strong appeals for a penalty so at half time it remained goalless.

On The restart Dunn saved from Towler and King hit the base of the post and then saw another shot deflected with Beresford just unable to get a touch at the far post. Playing down the slope Clevedon continued to power forward. King skewed the next chance wide from Teale’s cross, saw a shot blocked on 79 minutes and Vozza’s cross was cut out before Beresford could pounce.

Dunn had to be alert when Wellington broke, diving to take the ball off Lewis Jennings’ feet.

Clevedon thought they had broken the deadlock on 78 minutes when Vozza’s free kick was tipped over by Viney, but they missed the chance of the match on 83 minutes when Vozza clear on the right sent in a perfect low cross which King blasted over the gaping net.

Undeterred Clevedon were close again three minutes later when King’s cross from the byline created havoc in the Wellington box with Beresford and Selway just missing out.

Perhaps inevitably Clevedon were almost caught out on the break late on when Wellington substitute Gabriel Plant found himself free in the box, but Dunn produced a last gasp diving save.

Clevedon could still have won it in added time when King’s shot deflected to Beresford whose miss-hit was hacked clear, so the game finished goalless.

Assistant Manager Ryan King said: “It was a good performance, but we could still have been here until next Saturday and not scored. Joe Teall was back to his best but we needed keeper Dunny to save us at the end.”

“We’ve got bottom club Millbrook at home on Saturday and play like today with a bit more luck I’m confident we’ll get the first win in 2024.”