Shepton Mallet endured a frustrating afternoon on Saturday, 31st August, in a match against Oldland Abbotonians that was marred by an extraordinary number of cautions and contentious decisions.

Despite three penalties being awarded, and all successfully converted, the game ended in a 3-1 defeat for Shepton Mallet.

The match saw an unprecedented disciplinary record, with Shepton having eight players cautioned and one sent off, while Oldland also had seven players booked and one dismissed. Despite this, the game was not perceived as dirty, leaving many to speculate whether the presence of a referee's assessor influenced the strict officiating.

Shepton Mallet's performance was their worst of the season so far, struggling to find rhythm amidst frequent stoppages. Oldland dominated possession in the early stages, though their attacks were largely ineffective, with Shepton keeper Tom Easterbrook comfortably dealing with efforts from Casey Woodman and Harry Haughton.

The first major incident came in the 33rd minute when Easterbrook was penalised for a 50/50 challenge on Cash Vinall, resulting in a penalty for Oldland. Tom Blake stepped up and converted to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. However, Shepton quickly responded, winning a penalty of their own just before half-time when Cam Allen was adjudged to have been tripped in the area. Dylan Gould made no mistake, levelling the score at 1-1.

The second half began in similar fashion, with a third penalty awarded just four minutes in, this time for a foul by Joel Sisson on Haughton. Blake, Oldland's standout player, converted again to restore their lead at 2-1. The situation worsened for Shepton when Bateson, already booked, received a straight red card for a seemingly innocuous tangle of legs.

Oldland extended their advantage to 3-1 on the hour mark with a well-placed header from Vinall, one of the few moments of quality in a game dominated by fouls and stoppages. Despite late pressure and a close effort from a Cam Allen corner that struck the post, Shepton were unable to claw back the deficit.

The final whistle was a relief for the home side, who will be looking to bounce back from this disappointing performance. The Marshall and Bowlish Ultras Man of the Match was awarded to Joel Sisson.

Shepton Mallet's next fixture is away to Ilfracombe Town on Saturday, 7th September, followed by a home game against Wellington on Tuesday, 10th September.