WATCHET Town returned to action with their first home game of the season when last season’s Division 2 champions, Paulton Rovers Sports, came to the Memorial Ground.

The Red & Blacks gave a decent enough account of themselves and stayed in the game for a long time, but it was the high-riding visitors who deservedly took all three points with a 3-0 win in the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League’s first division.

Play was fairly even in the early stages though Regan Gallagher was the busier of the keepers, coming off his line twice to make important blocks. The home side threatened more than they achieved going forward, but they worked hard all-round in a competitive showing.

Paulton took a first half lead with a looping header following a corner where Ollie Webber looked to have been impeded on the near post. The game followed a similar pattern after the break with Gallagher tipping a close range header over before the visitors doubled their lead with a free header from another set piece.

Watchet put together some promising moves up to the final third and were well served by an industrious midfield. Billy Jones was foiled by a fine tackle as he cut in along the bye line. Jay Darrell made a solid return to Watchet’s defence, but the game was put beyond reach when a misplaced pass allowed striker Cook to go clear and score.

Watchet were denied a penalty when most people saw an obvious handball before Paulton had a fourth ‘goal’ ruled out for offside.

Watchet: Regan Gallagher, Ollie Webber, Harvey Henderson, Connor Jeromson, Jay Darrell, Josh Aspey, Mal Sherring, Kieran Bailey, Billy Jones, Charley Clausen, Todd Willis. Used sub: Aerron Clausen.

Watchet have no fixture for the next two weeks while Minehead play at Street on Saturday, October 5, but have no match themselves the following weekend .