Clevedon Town AFC suffered a 2-0 defeat in the final of the Toolstation Western League playoffs at the hands of Falmouth Town this weekend.
The play off final on the Cornish coast proved a match too far for the Seasiders after they gifted a second minute opening goal to their opposition and were unable to ever find a way back into the game.
The Cornish team added to their early goal with another in the 70th minute, a simple move finished by Luke Barner that put Falmouth 2-0 up and effectively ended Clevedon’s hopes of play off promotion.
Falmouth’s early opener came after their left back Bradley Leivers sent Oscar Massey racing down the left, who was composed enough to put the ball past Clevedon keeper James Dunn and give the home team a 1-0 lead.
Clevedon tried to reply to the early goal and shots from Sam Beresford, Syd Camper and Joe Teall all tested Falmouth’s Morgan Coxhead, but none could get past him to find the back of the net.
There was a penalty shout for the visiting side in the 21st minute when striker Beresford collided with keeper Coxhead after chasing down a through ball, but the referee saw no issue with the challenge and waved play on.
The half continued and Clevedon grew into the game, enjoying more of the possession and trying to push forward for the vital goal, but the best they could muster came after a Camper long throw that was poorly defended and Glen Hayer got a shot off that only found Coxhead’s gloves.
After going in at the break 1-0 down Clevedon started the second half slowly, but changes brought more energy to pitch until the 70th minute when Falmouth got their second through Barner.
Substitute for the home team Rubin Wilson won the ball on the left of the pitch and found Barner in the box, who had plenty of time to settle himself and place the ball past Dunn.
As time came to a close Seasider substitute Freddie King tested the opposition keeper a few times but to no avail, and Clevedon were forced to consign themselves to the 2-0 defeat.
It wasn’t the result they wanted, but the Clevedon Town squad can be proud of a season that saw them finish fourth in the table and reach the final of the playoffs.
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