A GALLANT performance from Watchet against third-placed Shirehampton on Saturday brought no reward as the visitors returned to Bristol 2-0 winners.

A cruel deflection in the opening ten minutes and an unusual strike in the last ten put paid to Watchet's hopes, but in between they played well enough to suggest they were capable of taking something from the game.

Shirehampton imposed their direct, physical style of play on proceedings from the outset, but the early boost they received came in fortuitous fashion.

There seemed no problem as Cook decided to try his luck from 30 yards out, but the ball struck Mark Clausen and changed course to end up in the opposite side of the goal to where Steve Moore was moving to effect a routine stop.

It took Watchet a while to recover from this setback, though they rarely looked like being overwhelmed by the reigning Somerset Senior League champions.

Some good goalkeeping by Moore and solid defending all-round, with Dave Spence a rock at the heart, ensured that the game was never over as a contest.

In fact when the ball was next in the net it was Watchet who put it there, only for Steve Wild to be ruled offside after receiving an unselfish pass from Darren Lyons and firing home.

Another good run on the right and cross to the far post by Lyons almost paid dividends before Dave Ridge reached a through ball from Wild ahead of the advancing keeper, but his delicate lob drifted agonisingly inches over the bar.

The Red and Blacks continued to compete well after the break, but given the nature of some tackles it seemed rough justice that they picked up the two yellow cards of the afternoon for Pat Dorrington and Nick Criddle.

A series of second half set pieces resulted in scrambles in the Shirehampton penalty area, where the ball just would not run kindly for a home player to get in a clean shot on goal.

Substitute Dean Allen's chip from 25 yards was off-target before Moore kept Watchet in the hunt with a superb save to thwart Nurse after he had broken clean through the middle.

Andy Dyer replaced the injured Paul Raymond before Wayne Merrick fed Wild on the right and he tormented his marker then sent a measured cross from the byeline but no one arrived at the far post to apply the finishing touch.

Moore again excelled with a full length push away and David Ruddy made a timely clearance as Shirehampton threatened on the break.

Further trickery on the right by Wild led to two more quality centres which went begging, and Dorrington's cross from the left suffered a similar fate.

The visitors survived another melee in their goalmouth to escape to the opposite end and make sure of all three points with less than ten minutes remaining.

Again Moore was wrongfooted as Wells stooped inches from the ground to send a looping header just under the bar from a right wing cross and provide a final twist of the knife for Watchet.

Watchet: S Moore, W Merrick, D Spence, M Clausen, P Dorrington, D Ruddy, P Raymond, N Criddle, D Ridge, S Wild, D Lyons, subs D Allen, A Dyer, N Sully.

l Watchet are at home again tomorrow against Brislington Reserves (ko 2.30 p.m.).