WATCHET gained their first win since November when they completed the double over Mangotsfield United Reserves with a committed, hard-working performance on Saturday.

With the Red and Blacks clinging on to a lead gained early on, the game see-sawed in the last ten minutes with two harsh penalty awards — one each — and Steve Wild secured all three points with a late winner from the spot.

The visitors needed to be at their most alert from the start defensively, with ex-Bristol City and Minehead striker Deion Vernon a lively customer up front for the home side.

The rearguard coped well and importantly did not concede an early goal for the first time in three games.

Having weathered the early storm, Watchet began to ask some questions themselves, with Nick Criddle's aerial prowess soon proving a telling factor.

From Dave Spence's well placed free kick he rose above the Mangotsfield defence to nod the ball down and Darren Lyons reacted quicker than his marker to flick it over the stranded keeper into the net.

A carbon copy set piece soon afterwards saw Lyons poke the ball just over the top, and then he drove a cross-shot wide of the far post after latching onto a long diagonal pass inside the full back from Kevin Harris.

Criddle continued to dominate in the air inside the Bristol side's penalty box, but Watchet were unable to capitalise and they came under pressure again towards the interval.

Vernon had the ball in the net but was clearly offside, then Steve Moore had the opportunities to continue his good form.

First he plunged low to save a close range shot, allowing Spence to clear, and then leapt to his right to keep a shot out of the top corner of the net with a fingertip save.

Mangotsfield attempted to turn the screw again in the second half, but Watchet's stubborn resistance allied to the heavy pitch had taken some of the sting and pace from their attacks.

The Red and Blacks still had to work hard in midfield and defend in numbers, and they usually managed to get something in the way of United's scoring attempts which were seldom clearcut.

Moore brought off another fine stop and then saved well with his foot following Pat Dorrington's rare slip, before two clear headed chances were sent over his bar.

For once Watchet were sliced open, but with an open goal beckoning Criddle's challenge was enough to make a home forward put the ball wide of the target for a real let-off.

Watchet began to look dangerous again on the break until being stunned with under ten minutes remaining when Mark Clausen's sterling display was tarnished by the referee pointing to the penalty spot when a shot struck him from close quarters.

Mangotsfield made it 1-1 from the resulting kick and for the next five minutes looked the more likely winners.

The visitors then forced a corner and a similar penalty award was given in a goalmouth scramble.

Wild demonstrated his coolness and versatility from the penalty spot by sweeping the ball high into the keeper's left hand corner and Watchet survived five minutes of added time to secure three valuable points.

Watchet: S Moore, W Merrick, D Spence, M Clausen, P Dorrington, D Ruddy, P Raymond, N Criddle, K Harris, D Lyons, S Wild, subs D Ridge, J Munro, B Saddington.

l Tomorrow Watchet are away again when they visit Robinsons.