AFTER two very encouraging performances, St Austell took big steps backwards on Saturday when they were heavily beaten at Shepton Mallet.

It was the joint worst league result of the season for the Lillywhites, who also lost 8-0 at Helston in September.

The scale of defeat will have come as a real setback for everybody in the St Austell camp after their first win of the season against Nailsea & Tickenham a fortnight ago, which was followed by an impressive performance at Helston in the Les Phillips Cup (2-0) in midweek.

Shepton raced into a three-goal lead in 27 minutes on Saturday and St Austell conceded five more times in the second half. It could have been worse too – goalkeeper Josh Clark saved a 65th minute penalty.

Ben Snell opened the scoring in the ninth minute and after Monty Burgess doubled the home side’s lead eight minutes later, Snell grabbed his second to put Shepton 3-0 ahead.

For the remainder of the first half the Lillywhites held firm without suggesting they could get back into the contest – and then they were wiped away after the break.

Left-back Jacob Littlewood made it 4-0 after 53 minutes and cometh the hour, cometh the hat-trick man as Snell completed his treble to extend Shepton’s lead.

Jay Sutherland (66 minutes) and Rushon Walker-Brown (71) added further goals before substitute Taelen Savage rounded things off with Shepton’s eighth goal seven minutes from time.

Things are unlikely to get easier on Saturday for the Lillywhites when mid-table Bridgwater United are the visitors (3pm).

AFC ST AUSTELL: Josh Clark; Sonny Cooper, Lewie Rendle, Theo Roberts, Billy Coton, Alfie Middleton, Matthew Pilkington, George Davey, Jake Harris, Sonny Lang, Archie Collings. Subs: James Francis, James Baker, Tommy Marshall, Joshua Mills.