"Anyone can score goals so I don't really care as long as the team wins," says Watson who has scored three goals so far this season but will arguably need important deposits in the net tomorrow against Team Wellington in their 1pm kick off at Park Island, Napier, in the resumption of the national league after the Christmas holiday break.
It was a demoralising start to Bay United's holiday after they succumbed 2-1 away to last-placed Waitakere United in what then injured captain Finlay Milne described as "sloppy moments" that cost them three points.
Bay United were sitting on the top of the table and were overwhelming favourites but two previous draws saw them slip to fourth place, two points below pace setters Auckland City and a point behind Wellington and Canterbury United.
The prudent will argue this is a pivotal time in their campaign if they are to realise the euphoria of making the final again, albeit under a different set of players historically last season.
According to Watson, the boys are out to make amends after a poor showing before Christmas but stresses it won't be easy against the capital side.
His good friend, goalkeeper Scott Basalaj, who he knows from the age of 13 and played alongside with Lower Hutt City, Team Wellington and Wairarapa United, will be the bloke standing in his way tomorrow.
"I'll have to put a few past him and he'll be trying to do the same [stopping me] so we'll be bragging about it at the end of the game."
He predicts it'll be a tight affair tomorrow but stops short of suggesting it'll be a stalemate against a side that has familiar faces in co-captains Bill Robertson and Cole Peverley as well as Fergus Neil and Englishman Saul Halpin.
"Whoever takes their chances and defends better on the day will win so, hopefully, it'll be us."
Watson, who had a tendency to hesitate in front of the goal at the start of season, has found his mojo in the last few outings.
"Maybe I was over thinking things a little perhaps but Brett's taught me simplify things.
"You can be a little low on confidence and that can play on people's mind," says the man who had a flirtation with Wellington Phoenix but left to play for Grimsby FC in England after failing to retain his contract with the A-League side.
The lower English league was an eye opener with it's physicality and "direct play".
"People say you can go do it over there but you don't realise you're going until you go there and experience it for yourself."
Watson enjoys commuting from Wellington a few days before game day to train and play but says Wellington weren't among his suitors this summer.
MATCH DETAILS
WHO: Hawke's Bay Utd v Team Wellington.
WHEN: Tomorrow, 1pm kick off.
WHERE: Bluewater Stadium, Napier.
REFEREE: Chris-Kerr Waugh.
AST REFS (1&2): M Fisher, A Davenport.
4th OFFICIAL: Gareth Sheehan.
REF ASSESSOR: Rod Pelosi.
HB UTD: 1. Joshua Hill (GK), 2. Sean Liddicoat, 3. Kohei Matsumoto, 4. Finlay Milne (c), 5. Harrison Nash, 7. Cory Chettleburgh, 8. Tom Biss, 10. Zane Sole, 11. Khair Jones, 13. Godwin Addai, 15. Samuel Mason-Smith, 16. Hamish Watson, 18 Martin Canales Ramos, 19. Birhanu Taye, 21. Fabien Kurimata, 26 Jarrod Hastings (RGK).
Coach: Brett Angell.
TEAM WELLINGTON: 1 Scott Basalaj (GK), 2 Liam Higgins, 4 Anthony Hobbs, 5 Bill Robertson, 6 Christopher Bale, 7 Leonardo Villa, 8 Cole Peverley, 10 Luis Corrales, 11 Mario Alberto Barcia, 12 Andrew Bevin, 16 Ben Harris, 17 Saul Halpin, 17 Fergus Neil, 19 Conor McGlinchey, 21 James Musa, 22 Alexander Carr (RGK).
Coach: Matt Calcott.
