WATCHET upset the odds last Saturday when they defeated high-riding Premier Division side Portishead to reach the quarter-finals of the Somerset Senior Cup.

In a typical cup-tie played in front of a large and vociferous crowd, the Red and Blacks produced a spirited and committed all-round performance and, although they rode their luck at times, two quality second half goals sealed a place in the last eight of the competition.

Just when it seemed as if Watchet had achieved their first objective of not conceding an early goal, the referee awarded the visitors a penalty with a harsh ruling against Lawrence Monaghan's challenge from a throw into the box.

The spot kick set the tone for Portishead's finishing for the afternoon as Clarke blazed the ball high over Steve Moore's crossbar and the home side survived.

Soon afterwards, a Portishead header struck the foot of an upright before being scrambled clear, but it was the side from a division below who proceeded to grab the lead.

Apart from their customary threat from long throws, Watchet had not really tested the visiting keeper, but it became abundantly clear that he was less than fully fit when he failed to hold a ground shot which Steve Wild did not strike cleanly and Dean Allen followed up to slide the loose ball into the net.

The Red and Blacks managed to keep their opponents at bay by working hard all-round to deny them time and space on the ball.

When Portishead did get the ball into the danger zone they found the home team well-organised by keeper Moore and served staunchly by central defenders Dave Spence, Andrew Woodward and Mark Clausen.

For the first ten minutes of the second half Watchet were pinned deep in their own territory as Portishead attempted to gain control.

They did not help themselves as they lost some of their shape and failed to retain possession for any length of time, which enabled the visitors to push men forward.

When the Watchet goal frame was rattled again by a header from a corner it was becoming increasingly obvious that the cushion of a second goal was badly needed and, much to the delight of the home following, it arrived as the midway point of the half approached.

The Red and Blacks had been making some headway down their left and when John Harris moved inside to send a diagonal chip to the edge of the area, Allen only needed a moment's hesitation in the Portishead defence to flight a perfectly judged lob over the stranded keeper into the unguarded goal.

The pattern remained the same with the visitors trying to impose their authority and Watchet continuing to resist with 110 per cent effort.

Moore punched well at set pieces, but a clear chance was sent over his bar from inside the six yard box and when the keeper acrobatically tipped another close range effort over the top, it looked as if Portishead were destined not to score.

Watchet were looking increasingly dangerous whenever they attacked, with Wild and Allen prominent, and following a sweeping move down their right they made it 3-0.

Woodward's pass released Allen, who held the ball up long enough for Wild to link up and deliver an exquisitely weighted ball into the path of Paul Raymond — who had made the run from his own box — and he took it in his stride to open his account for the season with a shot clipped beyond the keeper and in off the far post.

Another Wild pass then played Allen into the area and he looked to be tripped as he shaped to shoot with substitute Matt Knowles unmarked square of him.

The visitors finally found the mark with six minutes left but it was only a consolation, with late cautions for Nick Criddle and Wild epitomising Watchet's determination not to give anything away.

Watchet: S Moore, D Spence, A Woodward, W Merrick, P Raymond, N Criddle, J Harris, L Monaghan, D Allen, S Wild; subs, M Knowles, B Saddington, J Munro, C Wookey and S Lobley.

l Tomorrow Watchet are at home again, this time in league action against Clevedon United Reserves, who beat them 1-0 early in the season (ko 2.30 p.m.).

Their reward for beating the side currently second in the Premier Division is a home tie in the quarter-finals on February 2 against Brislington Reserves, who are ten points clear of Portishead at the top at present.