WATCHET Town’s first home game of the season saw them progress into the next round of the Somerset County Senior Cup when they beat Stockwood Wanderers from the same Division by a solitary goal last Saturday.

In a fairly even contest the Red & Blacks rarely looked like surrendering their first half lead until late in proceedings when the visitors missed a few chances as Watchet enjoyed a little of the good fortune which has escaped them in recent outings.

Neither team had seriously threatened a goal until the home side broke the deadlock before the midway point with their best move of the match. Skipper Eben Harding broke up a Stockwood attack before advancing into the visitors' half and passed out to the left flank where overlapping full back Josh Aspey's pace took him to the ball ahead of his chaser to square a first time cross into the area for Harding to continue his run and sidefoot instantly into the corner of the net from 12 yards.

Hesitancy in the home rearguard almost gifted Stockwood an equalizer, but keeper Vinnie Jones came to the rescue with a crucial block before clever footwork near the byeline from Jari High set up another Watchet chance only for his cross to pass right through the goalmouth.

Stockwood lost their top scorer Woolland to a nasty achilles injury, causing a delay while he was stretchered off and when play resumed Billy Jones did all the hard work in manufacturing some space inside the box only to shoot wide of the target and it remained 1-0 at the interval.

Neither keeper was severely tested in the second half untll out of the blue proceedings were livened up when a clearance by the visitors was met by Aspey with a searing first time volley from 35 yards out which had the visiting custodian leaping at full stretch to tip the ball over the top corner of his net.

The teams were largely cancelling each other out in midfield areas although Watchet put in a few dangerous crosses which they were unable to capitalise on.

A late flurry of Stockwood pressure finally caused some home concerns and the Red & Blacks combined some desperate defending with a little luck to survive a few scrambles before a free header from a corner was sent over their crossbar from point blank range and Watchet were safely home

Watchet Town: Vinnie Jones, Aerron Clausen, Charley Clausen, Eben Harding, Josh Aspey, Harry Scatchard, Brandon Walsh, Billy Jones, Alfie Lyons, Chris Barrett, Jari High. Subs: Jay Darrell, Chris Sully, Riley Pope, Riley Willis & Alfie Cox (all used). A & P Farmer MOM was Aerron Clausen