Brave Clevedon Town came up short in a 3-2 loss at new Toolstation Western League Premier Division leaders Willand Rovers on Saturday.

North Somerset Times: Clevedon's George King gives chase as Archie Ferris looks on at Willand Rovers (pic www.pitchero.com/clubs/clevedontown)Clevedon's George King gives chase as Archie Ferris looks on at Willand Rovers (pic www.pitchero.com/clubs/clevedontown) (Image: Archant)

They included Bristol City recruits Sam Bell and Zachary Smith, but were denied a deserved share of the points and host Shortwood United at the Everyeone Active Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Ben Bickle hit the crossbar for the hosts on two minutes but Sam Larkins saw a long throw-in reach Archie Ferris, who nodded on for Syd Camper to see a header saved by Mike Searle.

Clevedon took the lead on 16 minutes when Larkins launched another long throw into the box and Camper fireda shot on the turn into the top corner.

But Willand went close when Brett Worbey’s corner found Adam Hill, whose header was cleared off the line by harry Smith, before Ryan Jones fired wide from distance.

North Somerset Times: Clevedon Town's Sam Bell on the ball against Willand Rovers (pic www.pitchero.com/clubs/clevedontown)Clevedon Town's Sam Bell on the ball against Willand Rovers (pic www.pitchero.com/clubs/clevedontown) (Image: Archant)

Clevedon keeper Sam Blackiston suffered a twisted ankle on 39 minutes and had to be replaced by Dylan Wallis, with captain Callum Kingdon heading clear from a corner.

Wallis saved well to deny Luke Mortimore at the far post as the visitors took their one-goal lead into the break.

But Willand were back on terms within seven minutes of the restart when Bickle’s long ball found Mortimer, after Camper slipped and knocked over team-mate Will Mann, and his cross was smashed home by Bickle.

Clevedon went close a minute later, as Camper’s cross from the left found Ferris, whose header was saved by Searle, before the hosts countered to take the lead, as Worbey picked out Bickle, who cut inside and smashed past Wallis.

It was 3-1 on 74 minutes as Rob Norrish teed up Mortimore to tap home, but man of the match Mann fired over after combining with Larkins and Clevedon grabbed a second in the second minute of stoppage time as another Larkins throw bounced for Bell to nod over Searle.

Clevedon kept pushing and saw Ferris tee up Smith, whose 25-yard shot was grabbed at the second attempt by Searle as the home side held on for the points.

Clevedon: Blackiston (Wallis 39), Ferris, Mann, Z Smith, Larkins, Kingdon, H Smith (Vowles 69), Jones (Osmond 82), Bell, King, Camper. Unused subs: Nicholson, Lock.