WATCHET Town put up a brave fight last Saturday before going down at home by the only goal of the game to Somerset County Football League Premier Division leaders Nailsea United.
Giving a committed all-round performance, the Red & Blacks were never out of the game despite their visitors unsurprisingly enjoying the greater share of possession and having more scoring opportunities.
With skipper Eben Harding keeping a tight rein on top scorer Berry and Billy Jones filling in admirably in defence in the absence of regular full back options the Red & Blacks went in at the interval on level terms with the scoresheet blank.
The nearest the visitors came to a first half goal was when a forward went clean through and opted to square a pass which gave Jones the chance to get back and clear off the line with his cousin Adam drawn out of his charge.
Nailsea were also guilty of some wayward finishing from decent positions before the break arrived with Watchet pleased with their endeavour with some promising touches from youngsters Harvey Henderson and Alfie Lyons even though they had not posed much of a scoring threat themselves.
The deadlock was broken early in the second half when Williams was allowed to get in a cross from the left which Vaughan met at the near post with a stooping header which glanced into the back of the net.
After a shaky spell the home side realised they were not out of things and settled down to make life difficult again for their opponents. Keeper Adam Jones made some good saves, but the tabletoppers had the ball in the net twice more only to be denied by an offside flag.
A sweeping home move late on led to Alfie Cox releasing Lyons into a shooting position, but after taking a touch his attempt was blocked by a defender and there was to be no reprieve and no points for Watchet's gallant effort.
Warchet Town: Adam Jones, Billy Jones, Charley Clausen, Eben Harding, Jay Darrell, Brandon Walsh, Kieran Bailey, Harvey Henderson, Alfie Lyons, Adam Jones, Alfie Cox. Subs: Connor Jeromson Riley Pope Connor Shopland & Aaron Deeks (all used). Watchet's A & P Farmer man of the match was Billy Jones.
This coming Saturday, October 5, Watchet take a break from their need for league points when they entertain Division One pacesetters Congresbury in the second round of the Somerset County Senior Cup at the earlier kick off time of 2pm.
The Red & Blacks were dealt a 5-1 thrashing by the same opposition in the same competition early last season. Aerron Clausen and Lewis Rogers will again be missing, along with midfielders Brandon Walsh and Kieran Bailey.