Charles Lovell kept a clean sheet on his Clevedon Town debut as the Seasdiers were held to a goalless draw by Ilfracombe Town at Marlborough Park last Saturday.

The bitingly cold wind swirled around all four corners of the ground as Clevedon created the first chance after six minutes when home goalkeeper Steve Oliver made a diving save from Ethan Feltham who then put the follow-up wide.

With the wind behind them, the home side had more of the play, but Clevedon continued to create the better chances.

Two crosses from Feltham saw Osmond head just wide and Cam Salmon’s shot saved by Oliver.

However, just before half-time Lovell, in for the injured Luca Smith, produced two great saves to keep Clevedon in the game.

On 40 minutes Short thought he had scored with a curling shot into the top corner, but Lovell produced a great save, stretching to tip the ball round the post.

North Somerset Times: An easy catch for Charles Lovell this time watched by Combe’s Liam Short and Callum Kingdon.An easy catch for Charles Lovell this time watched by Combe’s Liam Short and Callum Kingdon. (Image: pitchero.com/clubs/clevedontown)

Then in added time, from an Ilfracombe free kick into the box, Lovell produced another magnificent save to tip a header on to the bar.

North Somerset Times: Mitch Osmond takes on Kyle Paine.Mitch Osmond takes on Kyle Paine. (Image: pitchero.com/clubs/clevedontown)

On 58 minutes Harry Stevens miss-headed a Clevedon corner powerfully towards his own net which Oliver pushed out to Ollie Babington on the far post, but his shot cannoned back off the post and away to safety.

Babington and Camper both missed the target and Osmond’s shot was blocked after a great one-two between Feltham and Salmon, but Ilfracombe were dangerous on the break and Lovell saved well again from Short.

The Seasiders almost lost it in added time, when Stevens found room in the Clevedon box and Lovell was on his toes to produce another stunning save, diving low to his left to push the shot wide to safety, to end the game scoreless.

"It was a difficult, scrappy game but we did the basics very well," said manager Alex White.

"Both sides could have won it but the quality up front was missing today. Overall, a hard-fought point against a good side in good form and we keep our unbeaten run going."

White praised Charles Lovell and added: "That was a real confidence booster for Charles who’s been very loyal to us, not only keep a clean sheet, but he was composed, assured and did everything he had to do really well and we’re very pleased he took his opportunity really well."

This Saturday Clevedon host Exmouth Town in the Toolstation Western League, before the following Saturday (December 11) travel to Brixham in the FA Vase.