WATCHET regained top spot in the Somerset County League Premier Division with a 5-0 home win over lowly Clevedon United last Saturday.

The final outcome looked far from likely in the opening exchanges, with the young visitors holding the upper hand until the Red and Blacks took the lead after 20 minutes.

With a few players missing, they were forced into making changes and made a slow start, allowing Clevedon to get on the front foot although they threatened more than they produced.

Watchet had created very little until they went ahead, but a three-goal burst in less than 15 minutes put them firmly in the driving seat and virtually killed the game off.

Not surprisingly, it was the in-form Tom Sparks who set the ball rolling for Watchet, albeit with a rare header glanced neatly into the top corner of the net from an Aaron Deeks free-kick.

Soon afterwards, Clevedon’s defence was breached again from a flowing home move which was finished off by Ian Lowe with his first goal on his first full appearance of the season as he drove Aerron Clausen’s astute pass between the keeper and his near post.

Watchet were now passing the ball around confidently and when Lowe was sent tumbling near the byeline the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Deeks made sure of a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead with a well-placed kick despite the keeper going the right way.

Any Clevedon hopes of a recovery were dispelled five minutes into the second half when their struggling back line failed to deal with a left wing cross from Ben Robinson and the predatory Sparks turned inside the six-yard box to stab home his second of the afternoon.

Another penalty brought the Red and Blacks their fifth goal of the game soon after the hour after Sparks accelerated past his marker inside the area ans was bundled over, Deeks calmly slotting home as the keeper opted to dive the same way as previously.

Watchet were unable to make the most of getting in behind the visitors’ defence on more than one occasion, Chris Sully twice failing to make clean contact with headers and Jamie Milton’s close-range shot being cleared off the line by the keeper’s outstretched boot.

Deeks curled a 20-yarder just over the top and the keeper made another good save, while at the other end there was seldom any hint of a consolation for the visitors as a reshaped home defence remained solid around Milton’s aerial dominance, and the match ended in stark contrast to how it had begun with Watchet bagging three more points.

Watchet: A Bishop, R Strong, E Harding, J Milton, B Robinson, A Clausen, J Worth, C Sully, I Lowe, A Deeks, T Sparks, subs C Jeromson, C Knight (both used).

l Watchet wind up their sequence of home fixtures tomorrow (Saturday) when newly-promoted Stockwood Wanderers pay their first-ever visit to the Memorial Ground.

The Bristol side are currently third place and by all accounts will provide tough opposition for the Red and Blacks (ko 3pm).

l Minehead, who were without a game at the weekend, go to Westfield tomorrow for a group game in the League Knockout Cup, having already qualified for the next round.