AN intriguing clash in the first division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League at the Memorial Ground saw Watchet overcome league leaders Staplegrove to end their long unbeaten run.

The teams occupying the top two positions in Division One served up an entertaining spectacle with plenty of incidents in front of a sizeable crowd with the hosts edging home by the odd goal in 3.

Staplegrove began on the front foot and in the absence of Adam Bishop, keeper Charley Clausen was called into action with a couple of smart saves.

The Red & Blacks came more into it and grabbed the lead in very controversial circumstances with a bizarre goal.

Visiting keeper Lock went to retrieve a ball between his goal and a corner flag, but when he prodded it into his six-yard box intending to take a goal-kick, Billy Jones stabbed it into the vacant net.

After a consultation between the referee and the visiting referee's assistant neither of them could admit to seeing if the ball had gone out of play and the goal was allowed to stand.

There was no doubting the validity of Watchet's second goal, however, when Josh Aspey forced a defensive error to find Jones, whose awareness released Alfie Cox with a square pass which the youngster controlled before sweeping a shot confidently past Lock.

Jones fired another shot against the underside of the bar and knowing they were in for a battle Staplegrove redoubled their attacking efforts to cut the deficit before half-time when Bidgeway delivered the perfect cross from the right for Wilkinson to guide home.

Early in the second half dangerman Wilkinson found space again to nod goalwards only for Clausen to block the effort near a post and from then on it was Watchet who looked the more likely scorers.

Keeper Lock saved a close range header from Brandon Walsh and went full length to keep his side in the game with fine stops to deny Aerron Clausen and Connor Jeromson down by the same upright.

In between these Connor Jeromson also had a header cleared off the line from Aspey's corner and Watchet were unable to make the most of having an extra man for the 10 minutes when the visitors had a player sin-binned.

Failure to add to their lead always left the possibility of a late equalizer, but the Red & Blacks defended well on the whole and Grove were restricted to a few off-target attempts.

WATCHET: Charley Clausen, Jay Darrell, Ali Harrison, Eben Harding, Lewis Rogers, Aerron Clausen, Brandon Walsh, Connor Jeromson, Josh Aspey, Billy Jones, Alfie Cox. Used Subs: Riley Willis Aiden Buller, Aaron Deeks. Watchet's A&P Farmer man of the match was Ali Harrison.

NICK SULLY