WATCHET suffered their first defeat of the season when a goal ten minutes from the end saw them go down away to Nailsea and Tickenham last Saturday.

In an evenly-matched contest, a draw appeared the most likely outcome until the newly-amalgamated home club claimed a late winner to maintain their 100 per cent start to the campaign and send Watchet home empty-handed for the first time in three outings.

The visitors had an early let-off when Gregory rattled their bar with a 25-yard free-kick which stand-in keeper John Harris got a fingertip touch on.

But Watchet were having as much of the play and created a clear chance of their own when a measured pass from Jason Worth found Cameron Sanford – on his full debut - inside the box and the teenager was only denied by a smart stop from the impressive home keeper.

Harris made a block with his legs and a header went narrowly wide as the slightly bigger Nailsea outfit threatened from set pieces.

The visitors then went within inches of taking the lead and inflicting the first goal conceded by their opponents this term.

A deep free-kick from Ben Robinson was nodded back into the goalmouth by Chris Sully and then only half-cleared to the edge of the area, where Aerron Clausen’s placed effort was parried by the keeper and Aaron Deeks fired the loose ball against the inside of an upright before the home side managed to scramble it clear with Sanford trying to force it home.

Deeks was then denied at the near post by another save, and although a brief shower had deferred the referee’s intention to have a drinks break, both teams were glad of the half-time whistle on a hot and humid afternoon.

Two strong defences remained on top in the second half and both goalkeepers were effective when balls were played in behind their back line, Harris acting as a sweeper to avert danger and ex-Bath City custodian Mellor cutting out some searching crosses.

Watchet were still enjoying at least an equal share of the possession, but with their defence for once stretched they were grateful to Sanford for reading the situation and getting back to put in a superb last-ditch tackle to prevent a clear run on goal.

With time ticking away a sharing of the spoils appeared probable, but Nailsea broke the stalemate following a corner.

A header from beyond the far post was looped back into the goalmouth and with Harris’s route to the ball impeded by players from both sides, Pilgrim lashed a close-range volley through the crowd into the back of the net.

Watchet tried to muster a late salvo, but apart from a cross driven right through the six-yard box by Deeks, they were unable to breach the home rearguard and Nailsea who edged a close encounter to take an early lead at the top of the table.

Watchet : J Harris, L Rogers, D Richards, M Heywood, B Robinson, C Sanford, C Jeromson, C Sully, J Worth, A Clausen, A Deeks, subs B Jone, G Dawson (both used).

l Adam Bishop, Callum Knight and Brandon Walsh return to Watchet’s squad for this bank holiday’s two away fixtures at Nailsea United tomorrow (Saturday) and Berrow on Monday (both 3pm).

l After a blank weekend, Minehead return to action tomorrow with a home game against Glastonbury in Division One West.