WATCHET Town did their chances of survival in the Premier Division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League no harm when they won 3-1 away to Stockwood Wanderers.

Fortunate to go in level at halftime, things looked bleak for the visitors when they fell behind just after the hour. However, on this occasion, they showed sufficient character to hit back and turn the tables on their Bristol hosts with a strong finish to the game.

After seeing a speculative 35-yard thunderbolt from a home defender come back off an upright Watchet keeper Vinnie Jones was largely responsible for keeping the scoresheet blank at the interval with some fine saves. He kept out a goalbound shot by his near post with an outstretched boot and somehow clawed away a close range attempt low down to his right on the goalline.

Stockwood were making inroads on their right flank necessitating important interventions from Eben Harding and on at least three shots were sent wastefully into the side-netting.

Watchet were making little impact going forward and were thankful for another point blank range stop from Jones to maintain the equilibrium at the break.

Watchet looked a more solid outfit from the outset at the start of the second half, but it took a Stockwood goal to spark them into action as an attacking force. Substitute Coppard came on for the home side and continued his knack of scoring against Watchet after playing a couple of one-twos on the edge of the area before clipping a clever finish over the advancing Jones.

Alfie Cox came on for the visitors and had an immediate effect as his pass to Billy Jones saw the striker scythed down as he turned his marker inside the box for an obvious penalty. Following their recent failures with penalties it was Olly Prescott who stepped up to confidently strike his spot kick high into the net to make it 1-1.

A rejuvenated Watchet then took the lead when a deep free kick from full back Jay Darrell - who switched positions seamlessly from his previous outing in goal - found Charley Clausen rising unmarked beyond the far post to beat the keeper with his downward header.

Soon afterwards it was 3-1 to the visitors with Cox again involved with a measured cross which found Brandon Walsh stealing in to nod neatly beyond the rooted custodian. The Bristolians pressed hard in the closing stages, but Watchet worked hard to repel them as they defended their advantage and there were few major alarms as they held on to bring home all three points.

Watchget Town: Vinnie Jones, Jay Darrell, Ali Harrison, Eben Harding, Ryan Wilkinson, Karl Boswell, Brandon Walsh, Charley Clausen, Josh Aspey Billy Jones, Olly Prescott. Subs: Alfie Cox & Tommy Robinson (used). Watchet's A & P Farmer man of the match was Vinnie Jones.

Watchet's next three fixtures are against teams in the top five of the division with two of them hoping to make the step up into a higher level next season.

This Saturday, March 1, the Red & Blacks play hosts to second-placed placed Chilcompton Sports, who have been one of the leading sides in the County League for several seasons with kick off time now reverting to 3pm. Watchet were 3-1 losers in the reverse game at Chilcompton back in November.