WATCHET Town’s good work of the previous weekend was undone when they went down to their eighth defeat by the odd goal this season, this time 1-0 at the hands of visitors Chard Town in the Premier Division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football League.

Despite never reaching anywhere near their level at Somerton, the Red & Blacks did not deserve to lose to their mid table opponents and squandered second half opportunities to salvage something in a game where they should not have ended up pointless.

On a sticky playing surface both sides struggled to put passing moves together in the opening quarter and scoring chances were at a premium. The visitors forced a number of corners, but the Watchet defence coped well with Charley Clausen - deputising in goal for the injured Adam Jones - punching well to negate the aerial threat.

Watchet were again forced into an early change with teenager Alfie Lyons suffering a groin strain as they were found lacking in cohesion and urgency with little work for the Chard keeper.

The only goal of the game came midway through the half when a visiting free kick was nodded on by lanky striker Brown and Fielder was left in space inside the area to steer his shot into the far corner of the net. Chard were then largely on top up to the interval without looking much like adding to their lead as Watchet seemed a little deflated.

The Red & Blacks showed a definite improvement after the break, but were unable to provide the necessary cutting edge after finally stringing some passes together. They had a golden opening to draw level early on when Billy Jones had his feet whipped away from under him and the referee had little hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Although the spot kick from Jones was cleanly hit it was straight enough for the keeper to make a fine save by tipping the ball onto the bar and away to safety and Watchet had missed their third penalty in a row.

Chard rarely troubled keeper Clausen in this half though Chris Sully blocked an on-target shot near the line with his knees. At the other end the home side were looking much more dangerous than earlier and twice Jones was crowded out as he wriggled to try to make space for a close range shot.

On one of his forays into opposing territory skipper Eben Harding crossed low into the goalmouth where Aiden Buller missed the ball from six yards out with the net beckoning. Watchet's attempts late in the day bore no fruit and another frustrating afternoon at the Memorial Ground was compounded in the closing stages when the referee went a step further than the yellow cards he had shown to players on both sides by brandishing a second one, and subsequently a red, to Josh Aspey for dissent and Watchet played out the remaining time with only ten men.

Watchet Town: Charley Clausen, Josh Aspey, Chris Sully, Eben Harding, Jay Darrell, Mikey Bailey, Kieran Bailey, Brandon Walsh, Alfie Lyons, Billy Jones, Olly Prescott. Subs: Aiden Buller, Ali Harrison, Connor Jeromson, Karl Boswell & Aaron Deeks (all used).

The Red & Blacks’ squad for Saturday's forthcoming fixture at home to Yatton & Cleeve United (2pm) has been decimated by unavailabilities.