WATCHET registered an impressive victory on Saturday when a fine team performance saw them overcome second in the table Keynsham Town Reserves at the Memorial Ground.
Against opponents who were averaging four goals a game, Watchet worked hard all round to limit their opportunities and should have had more than the one goal — a first for youngster Wayne Merrick — which ended up securing the three points.
The visitors looked most dangerous in the opening ten minutes with their lively front men causing Watchet problems.
A rare defensive error when Gary Trunks was a little hesitant for the only time in the game led to a forward going clear and Steve Moore making his major contribution with a very fine save which prevented Watchet going behind.
The home side settled down to earn more than their share of possession with a similar workrate to the previous week at Westlands.
A deep cross from Steve Wild found Paul Raymond ghosting into the goalmouth but a glance off his head did not provide a firm enough touch and the ball passed wide of the far post.
Watchet's play was not just about sheer graft as they strung together some attractive moves with slick passing and running off the ball.
Nick Criddle's aerial supremacy from set pieces caused Keynsham problems throughout the first half and the only surprise was that it did not produce a goal.
Midway through the half the visitors only half-cleared their lines following a long throw and Merrick's low shot from the edge of the area went through a ruck of players and beat the keeper at the near post.
Minutes later with Watchet in the ascendancy, Lawrence Monaghan hit a first-time volley with his left foot which whistled past the angle from just outside the box.
Darren Lyons used his pace to beat a retreating defender and the keeper to the ball but his lob was just too high, and twice Wild turned sharply on the left near the byeline to deliver crosses which deserved better reward.
Criddle twice headed just over and the half-time interval arrived with Watchet still only the one goal ahead.
After the break the Red and Blacks didn't always look as threatening and had more defending to do, which they did with relatively few scares.
They still had chances, and when Mike Jones cleverly outwitted his marker to clip in a cross, Wild's plunging header beat the keeper but hit the post and Merrick was unable to capitalise on the rebound.
Keynsham did not have many shots on goal and when they did get the ball in the home side's net it was ruled out for offside.
Watchet still had the best opportunity when Wild's cross to the far post found Criddle unmarked, only for his side-foot volley to go across the gaping goal out of harm's way to deny just desserts for himself and his side.
The second-place outfit tried to step things up in the closing stages in search of an equaliser but encouraged by the large home support, Watchet were in no mood to let things slip and victory was theirs.
Watchet: S Moore, D Spence, M Clausen, G Trunks, L Monaghan, N Criddle, P Raymond, M Jones, W Merrick, D Lyons, S Wild, subs B Saddington, A Woodward, M Knowles.
l Watchet face a tough test again tomorrow with an awkward trip to Glastonbury without the experience of Mark Clausen and Nick Criddle, who are both unavailable, and a doubt over Paul Raymond's fitness.