Pier Pressure

The Season So Far:

8 games into the season, Keynsham Town sit in an impressive 3rd position in the Western League Premier Division, although they have played more games than the majority of the teams in the league. Opening with two 3-0 victories – at home to league newcomers Ashton & Backwell, and away to Brislington – the K’s then travelled to Tring in the FA Cup where they found themselves on the end of another 3-0 result! An away win at Cadbury Heath was then followed by a relative rough patch including defeat to Cornish side Helston who have this season moved into the Western League from the South West Peninsula League. 3 consecutive draws came next including 2 in the space of four days against Shepton Mallet. Bank Holiday Monday saw a return to form as Keynsham thrashed early strugglers Bridport 6-2. Saturday saw Town travel south to Street; a 1-1 was the result and enough to push The K’s up to 3rd spot coming into this match.

The Seasiders of Clevedon Town have had a somewhat tougher start to the 21/22 season, with just one victory to their name so far – a decent 4-2 away win against Brislington. The FA Cup saw Clevedon lose heavily – 6-1 – away at the Hellenic League’s Bishops Cleeve. This defeat came after a pair of 2-2 draws: away at Exmouth on the opening day of the season, and at home to Cadbury Heath 4 days later. Mid-August had Clevedon lose 2 home games in quick succession as they faced former South West Peninsula League side Saltash United and then high-flyers Bitton. The Seasiders succumbed 1-2 and 1-3 respectively. The aformentioned win over Brislington stopped the rot and then on Bank Holiday Monday Clevedon travelled to Wellington where they played out another 2-2 tie. Clevedon then hosted winless Ashton & Backwell on Saturday, hoping to earn another 3 points. The final score was 3-2 to United leaving Clevedon in 14th position.

The Visit:

For an introduction to the town of Keynsham and its Crown Field ground, read my previous visit against Roman Glass St George.

It had been a glorious late summer day so I was especially looking forward to my first midweek trip of the season. Being September, it was already pretty dark by the time the game kicked off, and indeed the floodlights were switched on shortly before the players were led out onto the pitch. The opening exchanges favoured the visitors from the coast who had a few half chances – first the ball bounced wide from some unconvincing contact from a corner; then a classy flick-on was clipped just over by a Clevedon striker. Full back Elliot Nicholson then struck a spectacular volley just wide from a good distance. At the other end, some good work from Will Hailston drew a point-blank save from Luca Smith as Hailston’s pull back was redirected goalwards by an onrushing Keynsham forward. The breakthrough came on 18 minutes – Clevedon’s Syd Camper smacking an unstoppable free kick from 25 yards past helpless home keeper Seth Locke. 3 minutes later the Seasiders doubled their lead through Ethan Feltham, who was able to get on the end of a through ball and poke the ball home. It was almost 3 goals in 5 minutes as Camper sent in a great cross but Feltham couldn’t quite get there with his head. Keynsham were close to reducing the deficit soon after – Luca Smith getting down at the feet of the home number 10, the ball looped up which enabled Archie Heywood to get back and clear away for a corner. The 3rd goal did come for Clevedon, just before the half-hour mark. Syd Camper got on the end of a good cross, giving the Locke no chance in the home goal. Locke managed to beat away a Feltham free kick four minutes later, but with 7 minutes of the half left the visitors extended their lead to 4 clear goals. Glen Hayer stooped to get his head on a free kick from out wide. Cleveland were good value for their lead and the Keynsham players knew it – several of them making their frustrations clear to their compatriots. There was one final chance for the home team to begin to claw their way back into the game but a shot on goal was straight at, and easy for, Smith in the Clevedon goal.

The 2nd half was very much a story of the Clevedon players frustrating the home side. Each team riling up the other with some heavy challenges as well as some dubious play acting. On 53 minutes a Keynsham free kick was deflected over the goal by the wall, and the resulting corner saw a header well saved by Luca Smith. Smith’s opposite number was called into action at the other end as the Seasiders were awarded a dangerously positioned free kick. K’s boss John Allen had very little to lose at the this point, so he made a double substitution and implemented a change in formation with just under 30 minutes remaining. But it was to no avail as the game petered out. There was little of note that occurred until time added on – substitute Ollie Babington trying his luck from 40 yards with Locke out of position. His effort was decent but slightly off target, and the score remained unchanged. A resounding victory for a somewhat previously struggling Clevedon side.