It was a classic game of two halves as Shepton Mallet slipped to a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat against St Austell, who snatched all three points with a last-gasp winner on a heavy, sloping pitch that seemed to favour whichever side was playing downhill.

Shepton came out flying, with Charlie Walton testing St Austell keeper Andy Collings as early as the second minute. Jake Sloggett joined the action soon after, forcing another save from the visitors' stopper. Walton missed another chance soon after, as St Austell leaned heavily on their long-ball approach to veteran forward Adam Carter, whose tame header was easily dealt with by home keeper Owen Crawford.

Shepton kept up the pressure, with Sloggett going close again and Ashton Shanley delivering a pinpoint free kick that demanded an equally impressive save from Collings. In defence, Harry Rutty and Monty Burgess stood tall to snuff out any threat when St Austell ventured forward. The breakthrough finally came in the 38th minute when Nathan Legge calmly slotted a side-footed effort into the inside of the near post from just outside the box. Shepton led 1-0 at the break and looked in control.

The second half started brightly for the home side, with Rutty seeing his header cleared off the line and Will Banks missing the target when well-placed. But Shepton paid the price for not taking their chances as Ryan Downing broke free for St Austell, cutting inside and blasting an angled strike past Crawford to level the scores. Controversy followed, with Shepton appealing for not one but two fouls in the build-up, only for the referee to wave them away.

Buoyed by their equaliser, St Austell began to dominate. Crawford produced a stunning save to deny Keiron Bishop, but the visitors kept coming. Both sides traded missed chances, with Walton and Josiah McKayle spurning opportunities for Shepton, while Matt Searle and Downing threatened for the visitors.

With just 15 minutes to go, Crawford once again came to Shepton's rescue, stopping River Allen's effort. But disaster struck five minutes later when Paul Braithwaite was shown a straight red for a foul as the last man. It looked a harsh call, but Braithwaite accepted the decision without protest.

Shepton dug deep with ten men, but St Austell's relentless pressure paid off in the dying moments. Searle struck a low angled shot past Crawford to steal the points, leaving the home side deflated after a closely fought contest.

Match sponsors Bob and Christy Callaghan, along with Ridgeway Motors, named Harry Rutty as Shepton's Man of the Match, narrowly edging out Charlie Bateson, Crawford, and Burgess.

Attendance: 164.

Next up for Shepton is a home clash against Nailsea and Tickenham on Saturday 1st February, kick-off 3pm.