If you are an avid supporter of Clevedon 1st X1 then look away now. Please just move along, there’s no jubilation to be found here where only forlorn desolation is the order of the day.

As you know, if you read the North Somerset Times, things have not been going too well for the West of England Premier League champions of late but even so, nothing prepared the vast travelling army of Clevedon’s loyal supporters for this debacle.

Put in to bat the visitors almost immediately found themselves reduced to 41 for four as home pace partners Tom Price and Adrian Neill swept aside Clevedon’s fragile top order. It’s hardly worth naming names but I suppose I must as skipper Jake Lintott, number three Connor Crane and number eight Will Thirkell perished after making 13 each, lucky for some you might say and the home attack was certainly delighted as the batsmen spent little or no time out in the middle.

Debutant Adhan Mufti, finally permitted to take the field after being parked by the powers that be while waiting for visa problems to be resolved, top scored with 23 but seven batsman failed to reach double figures and the innings was gently laid to rest with 21 overs left unused.

Bedminster didn’t hang about chasing their paltry target and it took them just 20 overs for the loss of. two wickets to romp home long before tea had been prepared.

Body language certainly began to tell as the visitors went through the motions while the home side closed in but it was the forlorn voice of John Bachelor which could be heard as he did his best to raise the flagging spirits of his team mates right to the end of this lop sided contest.

So the current champions suddenly find themselves locked in a struggle to avoid relegation rather than challenge to retain their crown. The season reaches the half way stage this Saturday when title chasing Bath come to call. I have a feeling that the hosts will be more than ready for this crucial encounter.

My wife says I want my head read for spouting such nonsense but I feel something in the air so make your way up to Dial Hill on Saturday and watch the biggest upset of the season as Jake Lintott and his men spring a major surprise.

League standings all played eight: 1 Bath 133 pts; 2 Potterne 125; 3 Bridgwater 121; 4 Bedminster 117; 5 Downend 96; 6 Lansdown 96; 7 Clevedon 81; 8 Cheltenham 78; 9 Bristol 68; 10 Taunton St Andrews 58.