Street FC were edged out by local rivals Shepton Mallet AFC in a hard-fought 1-0 defeat on Saturday in front of a crowd of 284.

The loss marked a frustrating afternoon for Street, who struggled to create chances against a well-organised Shepton side that extended their winning streak and recorded a fourth consecutive clean sheet.

The game started slowly, with both teams battling for possession in midfield but neither able to carve out clear chances. Shepton Mallet, though, appeared more composed on the ball, playing the better football as they probed for an opening. Street's defence, however, held firm for much of the first half until a defensive lapse allowed Shepton to take the lead.

A long clearance from Shepton keeper Owen Crawford caught the Street defence off-guard, with the ball falling to Charlie Bateson after a mistake by Street's last defender. Bateson coolly advanced towards the goal and beat keeper Will Pope from the edge of the box to give Shepton a 1-0 lead just 10 minutes before the break.

Street regrouped during the interval, but it was Shepton who came out firing in the second half. Within minutes of the restart, Josh Jenkins found himself through on goal but could only fire straight at Pope, who stood tall to make a crucial save. Moments later, Jenkins turned provider for Bateson, who looked set to double Shepton's lead, only to see his effort drift wide.

Despite struggling to break down Shepton's solid defence, Street had a rare opportunity in the 60th minute when Toby Stephens forced a save from Crawford with a well-placed shot. However, chances for the home side remained few and far between as Shepton's defence stood firm.

Street threw everything at Shepton in the final 10 minutes, with Stephens coming closest to finding an equaliser when he headed over the bar in stoppage time. Despite their late pressure, Street were unable to find the breakthrough.

While Street's defence largely held strong, the lack of clear-cut chances ultimately cost them as Shepton's early goal proved decisive. Stephens and Pope were stand-out performers for Street, with Pope making several crucial saves to keep his side in the game.

Street will now look to bounce back in their upcoming matches, with the team needing to regroup after a tough defeat at the hands of their local rivals.