Clevedon Town began their pre-season action this week, against Nailsea United on Thursday and Bitton on Saturday.

Manager Alex White was able to play different first and second half line-ups in both matches to give all the available squad some game time.

First up were Nailsea and Clevedon lost out in a narrow game 4-3.

Town gave a debut to new signing Oscar Bridgman but were missing Harrison Kyte, Freddie King, Alex Camm and Sam Beresford, whilst Nailsea included a number of current and former Seasiders Under-18s.

Clevedon almost went behind less than ten minutes from the start when keeper James Dunn was in action to save an early Nailsea penalty. The visitors did take the lead on 22 minutes when last season’s Seasiders Under-18 player Michael Vaughan followed up to score for Nailsea when Town struggled to clear the ball.

It could have been more as Nailsea also hit the post and Dunn produced a spectacular double save on 38 minutes, but Clevedon turned it round before the break with two good goals from Owen Punselie, firstly smashing the ball into the net and then a powerful header into the top corner.

A devastating spell midway through the second half saw Nailsea score three times in twelve minutes, playing simple direct football.

Joe Smith tapped in a consolation for Town, but Nailsea almost scored again when former Clevedon Under-18 Jack Stephens crashed a 30 yarder against the bar.

Clearly benefitting from the run-out on Thursday, the Seasiders were back in the groove on Saturday in a 5-1 win at Jewson Western League Division 1 Bitton following a lightening start with two goals in the first twelve minutes.

Clevedon took the lead on five minutes when Owen Punselie’s cross was laid off for Oscar Bridgman to smash home his first goal for the club.

With Bridgman and the lively Punselie impressing, Clevedon doubled their lead on 12 minutes when Punselie’s cross from the right missed out Sol Kent in the middle and was tucked in by Cam Steer arriving late.

Bitton started the second half better and had a great chance on 55 minutes when Clevedon conceded their second penalty in two pre-season games, but Under-18 keeper Zach Ford, given a full game, produced an excellent double save, parrying the spot kick, then recovering to scoop out the follow up, with Glen Hayer then producing two great blocks to keep the home side out.

The Seasiders took advantage of this let-off with two goals in four minutes.

On 66 minutes Sam Ledward’s great cross picked out James Wakefield’s run into the box to head home unchallenged and then on 69 minutes Kieran Ireland broke down the left and curled a cross shot in off the far post.

It was five with ten minutes to go when Ireland and Wakefield set up James Tait to fire in, and five minutes later Bitton grabbed a consolation when a long cross was headed in at the far post.

Saturday will now see the Seasiders visit Hallen.