BUCKLAND Athletic suffered a seventh defeat of the league campaign when Shepton Mallet visited Newton Abbot on Saturday, January 18.

The team from Somerset were able to depart Homers Heath with three points in the bank thanks to a single first-half strike, Jake Sloggett scoring to make the difference.

This result sees Shepton jump above Buckland in the Western Football League standings, now sitting sixth on 44 points, one ahead of Dan Hart’s men, although the latter side has a game in hand still.

To make matters worse for Hart, Ryan Bush was forced off before the break having required treatment in the 27th minute.

This is a first defeat of 2025 for the Bucks and brings to an end a three-game winning streak. Previously, they had beaten Devon rivals Ivybridge Town as well as Nailsea & Tickenham to kickstart the new year in the perfect way.

That trio are all in and around Buckland whilst their next opponents St Blazey (January 25) are battling at the wrong end of the table, giving the former the edge on paper, not to mention that they have home advantage as well.

Elsewhere in the WFL, over at Erme Valley, Ivybridge Town fell to a 3-0 defeat against Clevedon Town. Clevedon are a very impressive side and have now overtaken Portishead Town at the summit as a result of this victory.

Portishead had no game but there were three other fixtures in the division as well as Les Phillips Cup action for Brixham AFC and Street FC.

Oldland Abbotonians and AFC St Austell shared the points in South Gloucestershire with Torpoint Athletic and Nailsea & Tickenham also drawing 1-1. Finally, Paulton Rovers put Brislington FC to the sword, winning 4-0 on home soil.