WATCHET Town produced a Jekyll & Hyde performance when they visited fellow-promoted Yatton & Cleeve last Saturday where after a goalless first half they went down by 2 goals to nil in the Premier Division of the Uhlsport Somerset County Football Leaqguel.

The Red & Blacks had the better chances before the interval only for their failure to take any to cost them dearly after the break with a disappointing showing in stark contrast to their earlier levels.

Despite having the rare luxury of being able to travel with the permitted number of five substitutes Watchet were ultimately unsuccessful in putting a dent in their hosts' impressive opening to their home programme which saw them make it 4 out of 4 plus 1 away defeat.

The visitors made early inroads on both flanks with keeper Charley Clausen's clearances causing the home defence problems. Riley Willis was a constant threat on Watchet's left flank and his good work should have paid more dividends.

Nathan Collins, Billy Jones, Eddie Townsend, Alfie Cox and Willis all had efforts either blocked or off-target and on other occasions the final pass was left wanting.

Yatton had their attacking moments too, but on the whole the visitors defended resolutely when necessary. Following a Willis corner the ball fell into the path of Jones, but he lashed his angled close range shot wide of the far post.

There was little hint of what was to come on the restart until Yatton took the lead around the hour with a move started in their own half and finished from 20 yards by Hance with a left foot shot into the bottom corner.

Watchet fell away after this and five minutes later it was 2-0 when the same player took advantage of the visitors being in disarray.

The home side hit the bar from close in and Jay Darrell somehow cleared off the line as things could easily have become worse for the Red & Blacks, whose only response was a hopeful long range drive from Brandon Walsh and a couple of dangerous runs from Willis which caused scrambles in the home goalmouth, but there was to be no route back into the game.

Watchet Town: Charley Clausen, Aerron Clausen, Brandon Walsh, Eben Harding, Lewis Rogers, Kieran Bailey, Billy Jones, Eddie Townsend, Alfie Cox, Nathan Collins, Riley Willis.. Subs: Alfie Lyons, Jay Darrell, Josh Aspey, Riley Pope & Louis Scatchard (all used).Watchet's A & P Farmer man of the match was Riley Willis.

The Red & Blacks will need to show a vast improvement on their second half display if they are to get any joy from this weekend's visit to Ilminster Town, who were 2-0 winners over Clevedon United last Saturday.

NICK SULLY