WATCHET were unable to hinder Shirehampton’s quest to retain their Premier Division title as the Bristolians extended their unbeaten league run to ten games with a 3-0 win at the Memorial Ground last Saturday.

The Red and Blacks contributed to their own downfall by not taking the few chances they had, as well as conceding goals to the long ball ploy which saw the game effectively over by half-time.

After Aaron Deeks had seen an early opportunity slip away, play was fairly even with Watchet holding their own, Brandon Walsh winning the midfield aerial duels and Ryan Strong competing well.

Shirehampton’s 24-goal striker Bamford completely missed his kick in his side’s first threatening move and was then denied as he shaped to shoot by Ben Robinson’s last- second challenge.

A neat home build-up led to Deeks setting up Jamie Milton for a 25-yarder which went narrowly wide before Charley Clausen’s through ball almost sent Deeks clear.

The visitors then delivered a sucker punch when their big centre back sent a long ball over the Watchet rearguard into the left channel where it was transferred into the middle to McKenna, who controlled and side-footed calmly into the bottom corner of the net.

The game’s turning point came soon afterwards as loud home claims for a penalty for handball when a cross was blocked were waved away by the official and a subsequent huge clearance from the Shire keeper again cleared the home backline for striker Harvey to latch onto and shoot past the advancing Adam Bishop to make it 2-0 when it might have been all square.

A possible lifeline was then squandered as Deeks was unable to put his head on a pinpoint cross from Walsh with only a touch needed, and to make matters worse the visitors were awarded a penalty of their own minutes later when Bishop fouled Harvey after more sloppy defensive work to give Bamford the chance to ram in a third goal from the spot-kick.

The Red and Blacks needed an early goal in the second half if a recovery was to be on the cards and they had a couple of chances with Eben Harding first shooting against the keeper’s legs from close range from a threaded pass from Deeks, who then delivered a far post free kick which the central defender this time headed too high.

After this Shirehampton seemed content to sit on their comfortable lead and neither keeper was seriously tested in the remainder of the game.

Watchet continued to huff and puff without really getting anywhere, while their opponents were not averse to mixing it and breaking the play up.

Home frustration increased as the referee had seen fit to book three Watchet players while the streetwise visitors escaped without any cards.

Robinson blocked another attempt from Bamford before the game petered out with the Red and Blacks pressing but unable to create anything clearcut as another visiting team were able to noisily celebrate victory on Watchet soil.

Watchet: A Bishop, L Rogers, M Heywood, E Harding, B Robinson, C Clausen, R Strong, J Milton, B Walsh, C Sully, A Deeks, subs C Jeromson, C Knight (both used).

l Watchet’s curiously suspect home form against the bigger teams this season will be seriously examined again this Saturday when they entertain Fry Club of Keynsham – who beat them in last Year’s Senior Cup Final – at the Memorial Ground ( 2pm).