WATCHET Town slipped back into the bottom three on goal difference following a 3-1 defeat away to Chilcompton Sports in the Premier Division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League.

In a poor first half showing where they were no match for their slick-passing hosts, the Red & Blacks looked to be heading for a real hiding when they trailed by three goals inside the first half an hour, until a spirited effort after the break restored some pride..

Chilcompton took the lead with little more than five minutes on the clock when a misplaced pass led to the ball being teed up for Smith to drill a left foot shot into the back of the net.

Playing up the slope first the home side made good use of a stiff breeze behind them and had Watchet in all sorts of trouble with some devilish inswinging corners from either flank. One of these saw the lead increased as Wych's flag kick entered the net via the underside of the bar and an upright with nobody getting a touch.

A header smacked against the Watchet bar before full back Smith made it 3-0 following another half-cleared set piece with a neat finish curled into the bottom far corner. The Red & Blacks' best chance of the half came when a through pass from Charley Clausen put Olly Prescott clear down the middle and the keeper dived full length to push his shot around the post.

After the interval Watchet gave a much better account of themselves with a more determined collective effort to negate staring down the barrel of a heavy reverse. The home side still had chances which they failed to direct on-target, while at the other end Prescott's run took him past a defender and his low drive demanded another sprawling stop to keep the ball out at the near post.

Watchet were not giving their opponents as much space or respect now and just past the midway point of the half they reduced the arrears and for a brief spell had Chili wobbling. Josh Aspey's left wing corner was nodded down by Charley Clausen and Eben Harding poked the ball home from close range.

Injuries to all 3 central midfielders did not help Watchet's cause after already having to use one of their two substitutes and any thoughts of an unlikely recovery gradually petered out as the impressive Chilcompton outfit looked the more likely scorers in the closing stages with Aerron Clausen clearing off the line and Vinnie Jones making an acrobatic save.

Watchet: Vinnie Jones, Aerron Clausen, Jay Darrell, Eben Harding, Josh Aspey, Kieran Bailey, Connor Jeromson, Charley Clausen, Harvey Henderson, Billy Jones Olly, Prescott. Subs: Ryan Wilkinson, Tommy Robinson (used). Watchet's A & P Farmer MOM was Billy Jones