HONOURS ended even on Saturday at the Memorial Ground between two sides on the same number of league points as Watchet and Frys Club of Bristol ground out a goalless draw.

The visitors still hold the advantage on goal difference and games played, but after they had missed chances early on it was Watchet who finished the game looking the more likely winners.

With Lawrence Monaghan still hospitalised because of septicaemia and Andy Dyer not fully fit, Wayne Merrick started for the Red and Blacks and the youngster again slotted in with a minimum of fuss.

The home side were also able to call on the services of short term 'stayers' Dean Allen and Matt Cox on the substitutes' bench while Steve Moore was back in goal.

Frys held the edge in the first half as Watchet struggled in each department and failed to function as a unit.

The Bristol side showed some lively movement up front as they fed off their burly target man and they had scoring opportunities to seize the initiative.

It was as well for Watchet that keeper Moore's handling was sound throughout, and he made two fine saves in the opening period before dealing confidently with some awkward crosses in a well-populated area.

When exposed one on one, he also managed to force an opposing forward wide enough as he went round him to shoot high and wide of the unguarded net from the angle.

Half-time arrived with Watchet's main avenue of attack being Mark Clausen's long throws, but even these were not as menacing as usual.

After the interval Watchet were much tighter at the back with their central defenders generally in control, and a grip in midfield gave them the platform to mount some attacking raids.

The only snag was that they looked no more like scoring than they had in their previous match at Bridgwater, and for the third time in four games they drew a blank.

Darren Lyons shrugged off the attentions of a defender to reach a ball played into the box, only for his left foot volley to go wide of the far post.

Soon afterwards Steve Wild turned just inside the area to hit a well-placed ground shot which brought the save of the game out of the Frys keeper as he plunged full length to keep the ball out at the foot of the post.

It was increasingly obvious that one goal would settle the issue and the visitors were by no means out of it as an attacking force.

Watchet had employed all three substitutes in an effort to pep things up, but they were still unable to fashion a clear scoring opportunity despite finishing the match on top.

Watchet: S Moore, W Merrick, D Spence, M Clausen, P Dorrington, D Ruddy, P Raymond, N Criddle, D Ridge, D Lyons, S Wild, subs D Allen, M Cox, A Dyer.

l Tomorrow Watchet are at home to title-chasing Shirehampton, who they surprisingly held to a draw in Bristol earlier in the season (ko 2.30 p.m.).