WATCHET began their Bank Holiday travels with a second successive trip to Nailsea on Saturday, this time to face former champions Nailsea United, and they came away with a 1-0 win.

They should have held a bigger lead than the one given them by Jason Worth’s first half goal before somehow surviving a late barrage from their hosts.

Nailsea had an early chance when Bell chased a bouncing ball and was impeded by keeper Adam Bishop after lobbing his shot off-target, but the resultant free-kick came to nothing.

Aaron Deeks cleverly tricked his way past three defenders on a mazy run into the home area and the keeper had to get down smartly to turn away his shot at the near post.

Defending solidly, Watchet were given the base to spring forward down the slope with some neat passing moves and they were rewarded when Chris Sully sent Deeks away down the left and his early low cross found Worth steaming in away from his marker to provide the perfect finish by steering the ball first time into the corner of the net.

The visitors continued to look the more dangerous with Deeks being denied by a last-ditch tackle and then shooting wide after engineering some space inside the box.

A beautifully-weighted through ball from Aerron Clausen then freed Cameron Sanford, only for the keeper to again drop down to his right to save his left foot shot before Brandon Walsh’s header came back off the bar following a half-cleared set piece just ahead of the interval whistle.

Watchet began the second half slowly, but had another chance to add to their advantage when Deeks threaded a pass inside the full back for Sanford to move onto, only for the youngster to drag his shot wide of the far post with just the keeper to beat.

Bell was having an increasing influence on Nailsea’s right flank and when he cut inside for a low drive with his left foot, Bishop had to dive full-length to turn it against an upright. Home appeals for a penalty when the rebound was contested appeared justified, but went unheeded.

Burly striker Jim Lee was thrown into the fray as Watchet were subjected to a serious aerial examination from inswinging corners, long throws and accurate crossing from the dangerous Bell.

A mixture of heroic defending - marshalled by Matt Heywood - with players throwing their bodies on the line, suspect Nailsea finishing and some good fortune saw Watchet’s desire to hang onto all three points rewarded when an equaliser seemed inevitable on more than one occasion.

Watchet: A Bishop, L Rogers, B Walsh, M Heywood, B Robinson, C Sanford, J Worth, C Sully, C Jeromson, A Clausen, A Deeks, used sub C Knight.