FOR the second time this season Watchet lost out to a late goal from Nailsea and Tickenham when they entertained the current league leaders at the Memorial Ground on Saturday.

After the visitors had looked the better outfit in the first half, the Red and Blacks improved following the interval to deserve something from the game - but all three points were snatched with less than five minutes remaining.

With a troublesome wind largely against them, Watchet struggled to make much impact in the first half against their well-organised opponents.

Nailsea won most of the possession to keep the home defence at full stretch, and keeper Adam Bishop was forced into action to push away a firm drive from the game’s first clear scoring opportunity.

The visitors continued to look the more likely scorers and it was against the run of play that Watchet took the lead with their only on-target attempt of the half.

Jason Worth blocked a clearance allowing John Harris – deputising for the unavailable Aaron Deeks – to turn and hit a low volley across the keeper into the far side of the net from the corner of the box.

Home joy was shortlived however, as within five minutes the scores were level again courtesy of a rare keeping error from Bishop, who uncharacteristically let a floated free-kick from deep out on the left through his normally reliable hands and into the net.

The visitors then regained the ascendancy up to the break, and Watchet went in knowing they would have to be better.

After an even opening to the second period, the Red and Blacks began to win more of the midfield spoils, allowing them to supply more of the ball to new-signing Curtis Gregory on their left, where the debutant showed some nice touches.

They were close to regaining the lead when Brandon Walsh foraged through the middle and turned inside his marker to curl a left-foot shot from 20 yards which beat the keeper but came back out off the angle of post and bar.

The same player had the ball in the net soon afterwards when he slid in beyond the far post to knock home a free-kick from the right, but a flag was raised for offside and in keeping with most of the afternoon’s decisions the referee ruled against Watchet.

Bishop made amends for his earlier blip when he somehow held onto a full-blooded drive from pointblank range as Nailsea hit back.

A wickedly-driven cross from Gregory was touched goalwards by Harris from close range, but despite diving the other way the impressive Mellor managed to keep the ball out with his legs before holding onto a similar delivery from Gregory with Harris just unable to make contact.

A heavy touch denied Harris another shooting chance before the visitors broke out to snatch victory, ironically from another uncustomary mistake, this time the consistent Matt Heywood who unwittingly knocked the ball invitingly into the path of Pilgrim who was in the clear to calmly round a spread-eagled Bishop to score the winner and spark off noisy visiting celebrations.

Watchet: A Bishop, R Strong, M Heywood, E Harding, B Robinson, C Jeromson, B Walsh, C Sully, J Worth, C Gregory, J Harris, subs L Rogers, C Clausen, I Lowe (all used).

l Watchet are at home again tomorrow (Saturday) when they entertain newly-promoted Dundry Athletic in a league encounter at the earlier kick off time of 2.30pm.

The rub of the green which the Red and Blacks have enjoyed in some of their away wins has not been much in evidence in two of their three home defeats to date, so they will be hoping for a change in fortunes this time out.