WATCHET were knocked out of the Somerset County Senior Cup at the second hurdle on Saturday by the only goal of the game from visitors Bridgwater Town Reserves at a windswept Memorial Ground.

The Red and Blacks had only themselves to blame after being on top and missing the better chances in the first half and then gifting their opponents the lead late in the day.

After an even opening to proceedings, Aaron Deeks worked his way past two defenders and almost to the byeline before being crowded out, then he received the ball on the opposite side of the goal from Curtis Gregory’s long throw but was denied by the keeper.

Watchet were working hard all-round to limit their young opponents’ time on the ball, and apart from a few corners and left wing crosses their goal was rarely under threat.

This gave the Red and Blacks the opportunity to put together passing moves of their own, and Deeks was causing the big visiting central defenders problems, but for once the top scorer’s goal touch was lacking.

The striker was brought down outside the box by the keeper, who was shown a yellow card as the referee deemed him not to be the last man and Gregory fired the free kick off-target.

Deeks then lifted a bouncing ball over the keeper but was robbed by a defender when a lob for goal may have paid dividends, and from Gregory’s through passes he first trod on the ball as he attempted to round the keeper and soon afterwards shot just wide of the post as the glovesman advanced off his line.

Gregory’s lofted shot into the sun caused problems, while the keeper could only watch as a 25-yard free-kick from Brandon Walsh came back out off the bar. In the resulting scramble, Gregory volleyed arguably the best chance of the half off-target, again from close range.

Watchet were not quite able to match their first half showing after the break and there was always the possibility that they may be made to pay for their earlier misses.

Deeks went close again and Gregory saw his low drive deflected behind for a corner off a defender’s boot before Bridgwater’s first meaningful goal attempt saw Venning’s shot come back out off the home bar.

The visitors delivered some dangerous inswinging corners this half and from one, a goalbound header was nodded off the line by Ben Robinson.

Back came Watchet, and Chris Sully exchanged passes with Deeks to advance deep into the area, only to have his sidefoot effort saved by the keeper at the expense of another corner.

With just over 15 minutes remaining the visitors grabbed the lead when Sinnott’s corner was misjudged and spilled by Adam Bishop with the loose ball being forced over the line.

Watchet tried to muster a late response through substitutes Ian Lowe, whose volley from the edge of the box forced a flying tip-over, and Connor Jeromson, who headed wide from Sully’s corner.

Pushed up front, Eben Harding went close, but when Sully’s first-time drive from 20 yards in the last minute drifted over the angle of post and bar, Watchet were consigned to defeat as the visitors booked their place in the next round.

Watchet: A Bishop, R Strong, M Heywood, E Harding, B Robinson, A Clausen, B Walsh, C Sully, J Worth, C Gregory, A Deeks, subs C Jeromson, L Rogers, I Lowe (all used).

l The Red and Blacks return to league action tomorrow (Saturday) with a trip to Cutters Friday in search of a double.

l Minehead’s league match away to Ilminster Town was called off because of a waterlogged pitch, and the two sides will now try to play the match tomorrow (Saturday).