WATCHET kept their good start to the season going on Saturday when they won 5-1 away to near neighbours Middlezoy Rovers to stay top of the Premier Division.

After having their interval lead wiped out soon after the resumption, the visitors swiftly regained the initiative and went on to triumph by a comfortable margin against last year’s Division One West champions.

There was a contrast of styles in a fairly even first half, with the home side using a more direct approach with the wind largely behind them.

Watchet were tested by a series of long throws, corners and free-kicks which they defended well on the whole, although one close-range volley was sent over the bar.

The visitors’ shorter game almost paid dividends when Tom Sparks wriggled free of his marker to drill in a cross from the left byeline which Aaron Deeks deflected straight into the grateful keeper’s clutches from point-blank range.

Middlezoy sent another opportunity tamely at Adam Bishop and Watchet’s strike pair looked more dangerous despite the final pass often being cut out.

Following a slight wobble, the visitors broke out to take the lead when good work on the left from Aerron Clausen led to Sparks finding Deeks again inside the area and this time the finish was unerring as he steered his left-foot shot neatly into the far corner.

The score could have been doubled before the break when Chris Sully’s through ball sent Sparks clear, but in trying to clip his shot over the advancing keeper he succeeded only in hitting his chest and the chance was gone.

Five minutes into the second half, Middlezoy were back on level terms when the visitors failed to deal with a throw into their box and Tucker’s volley bobbled over the diving Bishop’s arm and into the net.

That sprung Watchet into action, and they soon restored their advantage when Deeks returned the compliment by sending Sparks away for another clinical left foot finish wide of the oncoming custodian.

The visitors were now swarming forward and it was not long before they made it 3-1 when a move down the left ended with Sully cutting the ball back for Charley Clausen to side-foot first-time from near the penalty spot, and although his effort came out off the bar it struck the keeper and went back into the top corner.

The home side used all three substitutes and changed formation and positions to no avail as they rarely threatened to get back into the match.

Brandon Walsh and Jason Worth were winning more than their share in this half and it was no real surprise when Watchet scored again after their opponents failed to clear a free-kick and Sully had a left-foot attempt blocked in a crowded goalmouth before poking a shot home with his right.

The nap hand was completed soon after when a deep cross from Deeks found Sully unmarked at the far post and his downward header was over the goal-line before Jamie Milton made absolutely sure.

More goals might have followed in the closing stages with Sparks shooting weakly at the keeper after Sully had nodded Milton’s free kick into his path and then seizing on a defensive error to go one on one but veer too wide, and his subsequent lay-off was behind Deeks so it remained 5-1.

Watchet: A Bishop, B Robinson, M Heywood, J Milton, C Sully, C Clausen, J Worth, B Walsh, A Clausen, A Deeks, T Sparks, subs E Harding, I Lowe, C Knight (all used).

l Tomorrow (Saturday) the Red and Blacks visit Yatton Athletic, who won their first game of the season last week, ironically against Odd Down Reserves, the only side to beat Watchet so far (3pm).