THE Memorial Ground in Watchet was the scene of another last-ditch goal on Saturday as the Red and Blacks salvaged a point against Clevedon United Reserves.
Despite a mediocre performance, it was no less than Watchet deserved as the ball was hardly in their half in the second period of a wind-spoilt match, with the visiting keeper bringing off a string of fine saves.
Watchet seemed to be suffering a hangover from their previous week's exertions from the outset, although playing constructive football was always going to be difficult against a strong wind.
But they still had chances, and Sean Kenny's beautifully-struck crossfield pass fell right into Steve Wild's path, but his attempted lob was easily saved.
Kenny himself had two shots comfortably held by the keeper in between Watchet giving the ball away far too often.
Mid-table Clevedon had caused a few problems from set pieces as Watchet's frustration led to them giving away some free kicks and corners.
From a series of short corners of their own against the elements, Lawrence Monaghan delivered a trio of crosses, one of which gave Kenny a clear heading chance which he didn't connect with properly.
The visitors penalised Watchet's apparent lethargy before half-time by taking the lead. A free kick 30 yards out was hit sweetly beyond the home wall and past the diving Steve Moore.
After the break, Watchet laid siege to the Clevedon goal, but all too often their attacks foundered on the head of the visiting centre half, and when he was avoided their keeper was in inspired form.
Brian Hall stretched to reach Kenny's deep cross from the left with a first-time volley which was too high, and it began to look as if it wouldn't be Watchet's day.
Wild's first-time volley brought a superb reaction save low down to his right by the keeper who then went one better with a tip over when Hall opened to hit a long cross from the opposite flank as it dropped.
From a rare excursion into their opponents' half, Clevedon almost made Watchet's task harder as their only goal attempt of the half saw a header strike the bar following some sloppy defending.
It was only a brief reprieve for the visiting defence and Pat Dorrington and Dave Spence went forward to hit long range efforts high and wide.
When Robbie Hopkins came off the subs' bench where he had been resting an injury, he was soon in the thick of the action.
First he turned the ball into space to give Wild a shooting chance which brought another good stop from the keeper and then his stab from a short cross rolled agonisingly inches wide of the post.
Lee Nunn produced a clever turn inside the box to fool two defenders, only to ruin his good work by blazing the ball high and wide when a squared pass might have reaped greater reward.
It looked all over for Watchet as the match moved into stoppage time, but Nick Criddle's forward pass found Hall whose cushioned sidefoot ball enabled Hopkins to finally end the stubborn Clevedon resistance by poking it into the net through the keeper's legs.
Watchet: S Moore, D Spence, M Clausen, P Dorrington, L Monaghan, N Criddle, P Raymond, L Nunn, B Hall, S Kenny, S Wild, subs R Hopkins, A Dyer and N Sully.
l Most of Watchet's rivals near the top of the table also dropped points last weekend, but the Red and Blacks will need an improved showing tomorrow when they visit Peasedown Athletic.