FOR second week running Watchet Town lost out to two goals after the interval last Saturday, this time at the hands of high-flying Ilminster Town in the Premier Division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League.

Again the Red & Blacks held their own up to the break, but although their second half performance was an improvement on the previous week they were unable to stop their third in the table opponents chalking up their fourth win in a row.

Watchet's intensity in the opening period gave the home outfit cause for concern with their energy and workrate limiting their hosts' time on the ball. Some accurate long clearances from stand-in keeper Tayler Maddock had the home defence turning and Billy Jones was a constant nuisance to the big Ilminster centre backs.

Bolstered by the recruitment of a few ex-Western League players Ilminster gradually posed an increasing attacking threat and it needed a fine save from Maddock to deny them the lead.

Jones fired into the Ilminster sidenetting from an acute angle and was then denied a shooting opportunity in front of goal before former Bridgwater Town forward Phillips lobbed inches over the Watchet bar.

A workmanlike display all-round saw the visitors reach half-time on level terms and feeling they were well in the game.

Alarm bells rang for Watchet soon after the restart. however. when Phillips broke through only to slip his shot wide of the far post as Maddock advanced.

The warning was not heeded and when Phillips got clear again in a more central position he made no mistake in putting his side in front soon after the hour.

Five minutes later Watchet were caught in possession in a dangerous area and this time Phillips turned provider to tee up Sweet, who continued his habit of scoring against the visitors with a low angled drive into the far bottom corner of the net.

Ilminster had a couple of penalty appeals turned down which kept Watchet in with a glimmer of hope, but apart from a Harry Scatchard free kick over the top and a header from Charley Clausen across the face of the goal inside the six-yard box from Scatchard's  left-wing corner they rarely looked likely to cut the deficit and set up an interesting finale.

Watchet Town: Tayler Maddock, Aerron Clausen, Charley Clausen, Brandon Walsh, Lewis Rogers, Harry Scatchard, Kieran Bailey, Riley Willis, Alfie Lyons, Billy Jones, Alfie Cox. Used Subs: Connor Jeromson, Riley Pope, & Chris Sully.

Watchet's A & P Farmer man of the match was Brandon Walsh.

Watchet end their month of away games this coming Saturday with a visit to Worle, who currently sit one place above them in the table.

NICK SULLY