Shepton Mallet kicked off with intent at Oldland and made sure last season's triple defeat at the same opponents was firmly avenged.

Matt Morris almost opened the scoring with a sweetly struck volley from Ashton Shanley's through ball, but it was a pair of howlers from home keeper Kieran Perrin that set the tone. Charging off his line twice in quick succession, Perrin failed to collect the ball on both occasions – debutant Tom Trimble tapping into an empty net for the first, Paul Braithwaite doing the same moments later.

Oldland's Kris Miller ballooned a rare home chance over the bar before Braithwaite rattled the post with a header from another Shanley cross. He made no mistake a minute later, burying Shepton's third from Jake Sloggett's delivery in the 35th minute.

Shanley almost made it four before the break with a 25-yard free kick, and the hosts' day got worse early in the second half when Freddie Kershaw saw red for a strong challenge that looked harsh to many in the ground.

Despite being down to ten, Oldland tightened up at the back, but never really laid a glove on Shepton's solid defence – who have now kept three clean sheets in their first four league games. The visitors couldn't add to their tally, but the 3-0 victory was enough to lift them to second in the table at full time.

Man of the match honours went to Braithwaite for his double and all-round graft, though Joel Sisson, Monty Burgess and Lewis Coleman all impressed. The club's new signings, in both first team and reserves, are already proving their worth.

Attendance: 80.

Next up for Shepton: Ivybridge Town at home on Saturday 16 August, kick-off 3pm.