A BATTLING performance from Watchet saw them pick up three more useful points on Saturday when they visited and overcame a lively Long Sutton outfit with a solitary goal from midfielder Nick Criddle.

Solid defensive work, willing graft all-round, not to mention an important penalty save on the stroke of half-time from Steve Moore, ensured their opponents did not leapfrog over them in the league table with games in hand as Watchet moved up to third place.

Mark Clausen was back in Watchet's defence following his suspension and after a solid start from the visitors where they were always first to the ball, it was his free-kick which led to them taking an early lead.

The captain's perceptive long ball from near the halfway line picked out Criddle moving into the Long Sutton area and his impressive instant control preceded an emphatic finish into the corner of the net.

It was just the start Watchet needed, and for the opening half hour they were decidedly the better team with Criddle, Paul Raymond and Robbie Hopkins bossing midfield.

Playing with three central defenders, the visitors were seldom in danger at the back and went close to scoring a second goal following a mazy run by Sean Kenny.

An error and then indecision in Watchet's defence led to Moore having to bring off two important blocks before it was the home keeper's turn to keep his side in touch by fingertipping a hooked volley from Hopkins onto the bar.

Slack Watchet marking from a crossfield pass let in Milner for an angled drive past the far upright, and then right on the interval the same player had the chance from the penalty spot to level the scores after he was adjudged to have been impeded inside the box by Clausen.

Moore came to the rescue by not only parrying the well-struck — if not perfectly placed — spot kick, but also having the awareness to drop on the goalbound loose ball right on the line.

Having lost their way a little, Watchet faced a sterner examination on the resumption when Long Sutton forced no fewer than six corners on the trot.

On the whole the visitors defended them well with few serious alarms, and they weathered the storm to take some of the sting out of their opponents.

Gradually Watchet got to grips again in midfield without looking as dangerous going forward as they had in the opening half hour of the game.

Well judged crosses from Steve Wild and Steve Perkins found Kenny's head, but he was unable to direct the ball on target at full stretch on either occasion, and then a fortunate break of the ball for a home defender saw a last ditch tackle deny the youngster a clear run on goal through the middle.

Moore tipped a speculative long range effort over the bar as Long Sutton grew desperate in their attempts to salvage something late in the day.

The home side pushed their best player Lock further forward, but Watchet held firm and the last chance disappeared when a free kick in a threatening position was overhit out of harm's way.

Watchet: S Moore, L Monaghan, D Spence, M Clausen, A Milton, P Dorrington, R Hopkins, N Criddle, P Raymond, S Wild, S Kenny; subs, S Perkins, S Allen and N Sully.