WATCHET Town clinched promotion back to the Premier Division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League with a 4-0 home win over Saltford last Saturday, writes Nick Sully .
Two goals in each half saw them end comfortable winners in front of a large crowd in their last match of the season on the Memorial Ground.
After a quiet start to the game Watchet had chances to take the lead with Billy Jones sending a free header high and wide from a free kick and Eddie Townsend also missing the target from a good position. At the other end Adam Bishop had to come off his line to make a saving tackle with the home defence in disarray before the Red & Blacks went in front. Riley Willis chased a seemingly lost cause to the byeline to find Adam Jefferies whose shot was going wide until Jones intervened to nod the ball into the net from six yards.
Saltford came back into the game without seriously threatening an equalizer and Jones was denied twice in the same attack when a second home goal beckoned. It was 2-0 slightly against the run of play before the interval when Townsend gained possession in a similar channel to his earlier chance and this time he made no mistake with a left foot shot just inside the far post.
Watchet were largely in control in the second half without getting the early goal which might have put the game to bed. Townsend and Jones both saw the ball run away from them inside the area at the vital moment, but there was a home scare when a dangerous Saltford free kick passed through the goalmouth with only a touch lacking. Charley Clausen rose above the keeper to nod a corner from Willis onto the bar before the home side finally gained some breathing space with 20 minutes left.
A sweeping move down their right flank led to Josh Aspey whipping in a cross which Charley Clausen met, this time with an emphatic diving header into the bottom corner. Minutes later it was 4-0 when a move started by Bishop saw Aerron Clausen pass forward for Alfie Cox to reach it before the keeper and lift it over him for Aspey to find the empty net with a rare headed goal before a flowing passing move in the closing stages ended with Cox driving inches wide of the upright.
Watchet Town: Adam Bishop, Aerron Clausen, Ali Harrison, Eben Harding, Jay Darrell, Brandon Walsh, Charley Clausen, Eddie Townsend, Billy Jones, Adam Jefferies, Riley Willis. Subs: Josh Aspey, Alfie Cox, Kieran Bailey, Connor Jeromson & Lewis Rogers (all used). A & P Farmer M o M was Eddie Townsend.