GRAHAM Learmonth is desperate to steady the Yatton Road ship after watching his side slip to a 16th league defeat of the season on Saturday against high-flying Street.

In his dreams the Biddestone boss has set sail for the paradise of the Premier Division, but Learmonth knows he must first navigate a course out of the murky First Division waters that have almost capsized his future plans.

Learmonth believes opponents Street are destined to make that voyage this season but feels his young crew could make some waves of their own in 2007.He said: "Street are a good side with lots of big-budget players but I felt we did enough to get something.

"The tables don't make good reading at the moment. We know that we should be in a better position. "But it's all about next season now and what we can achieve with the squad we are building. In the meantime we should be looking to cut out the silly mistakes that are costing us points."

Biddestone took the lead through Joe O'Chuko after a mazy run by debutant Ben Highmore which took him past two defenders.

O'Chuko should have doubled the lead midway through the first half but the striker slipped after rounding the goalkeeper.

Highmore, O'Chuko and Kris Beasley all missed good chances after the break as Street were pressed back into their own half.

But a terrible mix-up between Ryan Trowbridge and Paul Ranger on the hour mark gifted Kye Palmer an equaliser for the visitors.

Trowbridge missed his header and Ranger stood off as Palmer burst clear to rifle a shot across Chris Snoddy and inside the far post.

The Somerset side took the lead with 12 minutes to play when, for the second week in succession, Snoddy failed to collect a hanging cross and the forward headed into an empty net.

Highmore almost answered for Biddestone but his lob hit the top of the crossbar and disappeared behind for a goal kick.