The Seasiders had to work hard to overcome a determined Oldland Abbotonians side on a bobbly pitch and a stiff breeze to secure a vital 1-0 win and extend their unbeaten run to ten games.

In truth, the first half was very scrappy, but the rejuvenated Elliot Nicholson grabbed the lead with an opportunist strike ten minutes into the second half which proved to be difference between the two sides. Town grew in confidence.

To their credit Oldland kept the Seasiders on their toes to the end but were kept at bay by a superb performance by the back three of Glen Hayer, Caleb Selway and Syd Camper, back following a rare injury to ‘Mr. Dependable’ Callum Kingdon, and the assured handling and one superb save from keeper James Dunn.

There were early chances for both sides when after a neat Clevedon build-up Elliot Nicholson’s shot was blocked and then James Dunn saved from Oldland’s Tom Blake. Dunn was soon in action again and produced an early ‘save of the season’ contender when diving full stretch to stop Cash Vinall giving the home side an early lead.

Clear chances were few and far between though, but Glen Hayer was unlucky when his header from Cam Steer’s cross was deflected away for a corner and then Dunn had to stretch to hold onto a cross from the lively Cash Vinall, who followed that with an ambitious acrobatic shot from Owen Lingard’s cross which went wide.

Clevedon hit the back of the net on 27 minutes after another neat build-up when Nicholson played the ball to Freddie King to slip Harrison Kyte through only to see the offside flag raised. They went close again five minutes later when Nicholson’s ball over the top found Freddie King on the edge of the area, but Oldland keeper Jordan Schofield was on hand to make the save.

The home side fashioned two further chances just before half time, when another Vinall shot was blocked and Blake shot wide from Brandon Oputeri’s cross, so at half time it remained goalless.

Oldland made a determined start to the second half and a dangerous cross flashed across the Clevedon box and just wide, Hayer headed off the line following a corner and Aaron Mansfield found the side netting from an Oldland short corner routine.

So, it was against the run of play when the Seasiders took the lead on 55 minutes. A defender and keeper Schofield got into a tangle from a cross into the box and as the ball ran loose Nicholson acted quickly to nip in and plant the ball into the net, becoming Clevedon’s fifteenth different scorer this season.

Gaining in confidence Clevedon pressed forward and Hayer’s accurate ball down the line to Nicholson was deflected away for a throw and Joe Teall set up Freddie King, but Jack Mills got in a block. Clevedon were never able to relax though and Hayer did well to stop Oputeri. Then came three half chances for Vinal, who headed a corner straight at Dunn, then prodded the ball past Hayer and wide with Dunn out of position and finally shot straight at Dunn as he tried to latch on to Hayer’s header back to the keeper.

With just under a quarter of an hour to go and Clevedon pushing forward, Freddie Kershaw headed a Freddie King free-kick straight back to King and Schofield did well to get down and push the follow-up away and just beyond Kyte. Cam Steer’s free-kick was then only cleared to Freddie King who put in a great cross which was headed away.

Oldland continued to push hard for an equaliser in the last five minutes but couldn’t find a way past Dunn. Harry Haughton fired high and wide from a good position, another cross was well cleared by the keeper who then did well to hold a powerful Haughton cross-shot and so the Seasiders held on to take the points with a narrow 1-0 victory and remain two points clear at the top of the table.