A DISAPPOINTING first half showing left Watchet facing an uphill battle to continue their opening unbeaten sequence of away games when they met a young Brislington Reserves side on Saturday.

But from two goals down at the interval, they made a vast improvement to finish the stronger side and draw level in the last 20 minutes with strikes from Robbie Hopkins and Steve Allen.

Brislington's pace, eagerness and movement off the ball caused the visitors plenty of problems from the outset.

A good home chance was wasted and then Steve Moore produced an acrobatic fist over the top to divert a well-struck volley on the run from inside the penalty area.

Steve Wild replied with a thunderous 30 yarder which was only just too high, but although they sometimes threatened on the break, Watchet's general level of play was below par — particularly when they did not have the ball.

Brislington finally made them pay for their sloppiness at the back when Reynolds leapt ahead of Mark Clausen to meet a free-kick with a header into the corner of the net which left Moore rooted to the spot.

Watchet almost equalised when Nick Criddle rose to a cross from Hopkins in front of the keeper, only to see his glancing header strike the base of the far post, and Wild was then well off-target with a first-time effort from the edge of the area.

It proved false hope as Reynolds dispossessed Matt Cox before lobbing an adroitly judged angled shot over Moore and inside the far upright.

Watchet needed an early lift in the second half and it almost arrived when a clever run and pass by Paul Raymond put in Dean Allen, but although he took the ball in his stride to strike his shot firmly it was too close to the oncoming keeper.

The visitors continued to edge their way back into things and twice Wild might have finished better on another day before curling in a snapshot which the keeper again caught securely.

Brislington squandered an opportunity to put the issue beyond reach when a shot was screwed wide of the goal, prior to Watchet gaining a lifeline just over midway through the half.

A build-up down the left led to Pat Dorrington hitting an attempted shot which was bobbling harmlessly wide of the far post when Hopkins stole in unnoticed to slide it back into the opposite corner.

Watchet were now looking the more dangerous outfit, even if they still survived a few uncertain moments at the back, and other half chances went begging before their fight back was completed with less than five minutes remaining.

Hopkins had been posing Brislington problems on the right, but after a reshuffle which brought on strikers Steve Allen and Jamie Munro, he reverted to a midfield role.

So it was Wild who popped up wide on the flank to deliver a pinpoint cross which saw veteran Allen outjump his marker to dispatch a header into the bottom corner and enable a determined Watchet to record their third consecutive draw.

Watchet: S Moore, L Monaghan, D Spence, M Cox, M Clausen, P Dorrington, R Hopkins, P Raymond, N Criddle, S Wild, D Allen, subs S Allen, J Munro, N Sully.

l Watchet play their first home game tomorrow (Saturday) against Mangotsfield Reserves (3 p.m.).