WATCHET chalked up a notable double at the Memorial Ground on Saturday when they beat Fry Club 2-0 for the second time this season.

In a tightly-contested match played in difficult conditions, the Red and Blacks were worthy of the three points against their Keynsham-based rivals who have Western League aspirations.

Two evenly-matched sides cancelled each other out in a first half where the keen wind was largely in Watchet’s favour and conditions underfoot were made even more slippery by a heavy storm with some hail mixed in.

The home side were in their opponents’ half more than their own and tried their best to make use of the flanks, but the nearest they went to scoring was when a Fry defender intercepted a cross with a diving header which forced his stockily-built keeper into a full-length save at the expense of a corner.

Watchet were unable to make the most of their flag-kicks and Brandon Walsh curled a 25-yard free-kick wide of the angle of post and bar, while at the other end keeper Adam Bishop hadn’t been called into serious action when the half-time interval arrived with defences on top and the scoresheet blank.

The game opened up a little at the start of the second half as the two sides traded attacks without finding a way through.

A rare slip in the home rearguard let in Brown for a clear run on goal, only for the Frys’ top scorer to shoot wide of the far post as well as the advancing Bishop.

Aaron Deeks drilled a low shot wide of the far post as the ball bobbled around in the visitors’ area and then cleverly lifted a free-kick over the defensive wall for Ryan Strong to volley into the goalmouth on the turn, but the ball was scrambled clear.

Chris Sully drove in a low cross which saw Connor Jeromson’s flick cleared off the line before Deeks was pulled back by his marker as he threatened to get away into the box .

A second chance fell to Brown, but the lone striker again uncharacteristically placed his shot the wrong side of the same upright.

An offside flag then offset home penalty claims when the Fry keeper pole-axed Jeromson as they challenged for a high ball, and the Watchet player was subsequently replaced by Jason Worth, who was making his return after a lengthy lay-off.

The stalemate was broken soon afterwards and Worth was involved in the build-up on the left which led to Eben Harding delivering a low ball into the danger zone where midfielder Walsh stole in unmarked to steer it wide of the keeper and into the corner of the net.

With Jamie Milton a commanding figure at the heart of a solid back four, Watchet were in no mood to surrender their lead and they made sure of all three points when Sully’s through ball sent a suspiciously offside-looking Deeks clear and the leading home marksman stayed ahead of pursuing defenders to round the keeper and calmly find the vacant net.

There was still time for the visitors to send a couple of efforts narrowly off target, but Bishop remained untroubled as the Red and Blacks emerged triumphant.

Watchet: A Bishop, B Robinson, J Milton, M Heywood, E Harding, C Clausen, R Strong, C Jeromson, B Walsh, C Sully, A Deeks, subs J Worth, A Clausen (both used), C Knight, L Rogers (not used).

l Watchet are at home again tomorrow (Saturday) when they host Wrington Redhill at the later kick-off time of 2.30pm.

l Minehead had another blank weekend when their home match against Wells City Reserves last Saturday was called off because of an unfit pitch.

And they now have another weekend off as they have no match scheduled for tomorrow.