CHRISTCHURCH manager Pete Moore was today set to quit after his side's disastrous start to the season continued against 10-man Clevedon.

Priory were gifted a golden opportunity to book their place in the first qualifying round when Clevedon goalkeeper Scott Corderoy was sent-off for handball outside the penalty area after just 41 minutes.

Moore's men failed to force makeshift keeper Tom Jacobs into a serious save until Ben Griffiths headed a late consolation goal after Clevedon had taken a 2-0 lead.

Non-league stalwart Moore is ready to step down just seven games into the season after admitting he is struggling to motivate his under-performing players.

Moore said: "Clevedon were very poor and we were even worse. If we had played to 50 per cent of our capability we would have turned them over.

"Our confidence is shattered and we are making mistake after mistake and I have never seen a team lose its confidence so quickly.

"I have to think about where I go from here because I do not know whether I am the man to take them forward.

"I have a lot of things going on in my personal life and do not know if I am giving it the commitment that I should be.

"I don't want to leave altogether because I have been a manager since I was 27 and I love this club but I may have to step aside and find a different role.

"We need someone at the helm that can give the job their full commitment because my anxiety is definitely having an effect on the players.

"If I stay in charge I can see things going really pear-shaped."

Christchurch, who have taken only one point from their first six league games, got off to the worst possible start by falling behind after only three minutes.

The static home defence failed to deal with Mike Regan's hopeful prod upfield, allowing former Bristol City trainee Jacobs to run through and find the net from six yards out.

The home side were given a glimmer of hope when Corderoy came racing out off his goal to challenge Scott Joyce and unexplainably pushed the ball away with his hand two yards outside his box.

Corderoy was immediately shown the red card forcing Jacobs to take over between the posts.

Clevedon made light work of their one-man disadvantage and all but secured the win when Jack Pitcher headed in Richard Lamacraft's free kick in the 64th minute.

Griffiths nodded home from a James Bailey-Pearce corner two minutes from time but that goal was not enough to save Priory.

Christchurch: Frampton, Wyatt, Whitley, Massey, Knighton, Rideout (Wells, 43), Edwards (Stone, 75), Griffiths, Bentley, Joyce (Larande, 73), Bailey-Pearce. Unused subs: Barnard, Lawrence.