BUCKLAND Athletic suffered their largest defeat of the season when Western League leaders Clevedon Town visited The VX3 Stadium on Saturday, November 21.

Sam Beresford scored an early brace for the Somerset side and Bucks manager Matt Cusack wrote on Twitter that they “gave ourselves a mountain to climb” at this point.

They steadied the ship but Jacob Sloggett then struck a quick-fire double of his own after the break to continue Clevedon’s title-winning form.

Since putting eight past Shepton Mallet on November 15, Buckland have failed to win three outings in a row. Losing to Torpoint Athletic and Clevedon aren’t complete failures on the surface but for a club with lofty ambitions, it is certainly a blow.

In the words of Cusack, “Attention now on [the FA] Vase” with fellow Western League side Barnstaple Town coming to town this weekend.

This promises to be a fascinating clash between seventh and fifth with a fourth round spot on the line, if the weather allows it.