First Division Timsbury Athletic held Premier Division local rivals Clutton to a 1-1 draw in the Somerset County League Cup for Premier and Division 1 clubs but were then beaten 5-4 on penalties. There was little to choose between the two sides in a hard fought local derby.

Timsbury created the early chances with Matt Brooks heading wide from a Liam Craze corner and Chris Midgeley shooting just over with a fine effort. At the other end Zach Evans was wide with a speculative attempt for Clutton while Ellis Hancock shot past the post for the home side. The deadlock was broken on the half-hour when Brooks rose well to head home a Rhys Cook corner.

Clutton responded with Edward Stowell heading wide from a Steve Greenslade free-kick but Timsbury had the chances to double their advantage with Cook having an effort ruled out for off-side and Hancock heading a Jack Nix cross over the top. Adam Holcombe twice came close to grabbing the equalizer just before the interval but a crisp shot from distance drifted just wide and almost immediately a free-kick from the same player struck a post.

Just two minutes into the second half Clutton were level. A cross from George Perry was stabbed home by Stowell. A fine effort from Toby Neilson forced a good save from visiting keeper Steve Rogers while at the other end Tony Pow did well to cut out a dangerous cross from Ryan Saunders. Rogers denied Cook with a crucial save at the near post and also did well to hold a shot from substitute Lewis Bond-Kendall. Jordan Reeves had a late opportunity to win the game for the visitors but his goal bound effort was deflected for a corner and right on time home keeper Ashton Tucker saved from Holcombe.

Neither goalkeeper was given much chance with the penalties but Jesse Bishop was the unfortunate odd man out putting his shot over the bar.

Malcolm Tucker

A goal right on time from Dominic Barresi saw Timsbury Athletic through to the third round of the Somerset Senior Cup but last year’s semi-finalists made hard work of it. Saltford, who dominated the second half, will find the result hard to take. Timsbury, who led 1-0 at the interval, had wasted several opportunities to establish a more convincing half-time advantage but it was all Saltford in the second period against a strangely disjointed home outfit.

Tom Bennett had an early shooting chance for the visitors but put his effort wide while Ebner Heatley also missed the target for Timsbury. The breakthrough came after 12 minutes when Rhys Cook latched on to a long searching pass from Jesse Bishop and showed good skills to lob the advancing Saltford keeper Joe Stevens.

Home custodian Josh Wilcox, who performed well throughout the game, saved well from Sam Jones and then used his feet to keep out a shot from Sean Seaville. Cook was creating problems for the visitors’ defence and twice presented clear chances for Ellis Hancock but on both occasions the home skipper shot over. Elliott Jones twice tried his luck from distance for the visitors but his efforts were easily dealt with by Wilcox.

Early in the second half Heatley came close to doubling the home side’s advantage but thereafter it was all Saltford. With Bishop spending 10 minutes in the sin bin the visitors piled on the pressure and Wilcox again excelled with a smart save from an Elliott Jones free-kick. He later moved quickly to push a defected effort from Jones around the post.

Substitute Jake Webb made an immediate impact when he was introduced and after 75 minutes crossed for Aaron Messenger to clip home a deserved equalizer. Cook was looking increasingly isolated up front for the home side but continued to work hard. Just as penalties looked certain to decide the outcome Heatley made a decisive run down the left. His cross caused panic and after the bar had twice been hit Barresi struck home the winner.

Malcolm Tucker

A superb strike from Dan Hartley in the last minute robbed Timsbury Athletic of all three points in this entertaining Uhlsport Somerset County League Division One encounter but in truth it was no more than Uphill Castle deserved. It was a game befitting of two sides at the top end of the league table.

Timsbury made the perfect start when Ellis Hancock outjumped the visitors’ defence to head past Sam Beresford with just five minutes on the clock. At the other end Jack Scrivens saved well from Will Sneddon-Coombs but Rhys Cook then missed a great opportunity to double the home side’s advantage when he broke clear but lobbed wide with Beresford stranded.

Just two minutes later Uphill Castle were level when captain Jack Askins was first to meet a corner and headed home. A clever run from Chris Midgeley threatened the visitors’ defence but he was denied by a last ditch tackle. Uphill Castle could easily have taken the lead before the interval but first Dan Hartley rattled a post and then Aiden Mckenna hit the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Early in the second half Ben Harris was just too high with a great effort for the visitors while Hancock was wide  with a header from another Nix free-kick. It was Hancock who was soon to put Timsbury in front for the second time when he hit a fine shot from outside the box past Beresford after good work from Cook.

Hancock was to blot his copy book when he was sent to the sin bin but Timsbury survived the period of him off the field although Harris missed a great chance when he shot over. As Uphill pressed for equality Hartley was well wide from distance and Askins had a free-kick from a dangerous position blocked. It looked as though Timsbury would hold on before Hartley’s late stunner saw the points shared.

Man of the Match Dominic Baressi

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury continued their good start to the season although they had to recover from 2 -0 down at half time before eventually running out comfortable winners, after scoring six in the second half of this Div 1 Uhlsport  Somerset County league match.

After a quiet start it was the home side who had the first real chance, when Mann was allowed to run clear from a long ball over the top but Wilcox in the Timsbury goal made a fine save with his legs. Wilcox came to the rescue again when he pushed a fine shot from Welling around the post for a corner. From the corner a needless push on Carpenter resulted in an inevitable penalty which was well converted by Bind to make it 1-0.

After 25 mins disaster struck again when a cross from the right reached an unchallenged Bishop 10 yards out and his cushioned header flew over the outstretched hand of the keeper to make it 2-0. Timsbury were unable to respond and their tactic of playing the long ball through for Cook to chase was easily contained by the home defence. They were thrown a life line right on half time when a push in the back on Hancock led to another penalty, unfortunately Cook’s shot was saved by Kahya and he then managed somehow to tip the rebound from Cook over the bar.

Timsbury introduced Heatley at the start of the second half in an effort to add width to their attack. Timsbury’s first chance fell to Cook after Heatley played him through. He turned inside the defender only to see his shot hit the bar with the keeper well beaten.

On the hour mark Timsbury reduced the deficit when a free kick from the half way line evaded the home defence allowing Neilson to fire home from an acute angle to make it 2-1. The real turning point came a few minutes later when a reckless challenge by Yatton Captain Carpenter on Hancock led to him being dismissed leaving them with 10 men.

Two minutes later Bishop made amends for his earlier error when he neatly back heeled the ball into the net after the home side failed to clear a corner. Within minutes Timsbury made the advantage pay when Baresi was wiped out at the far post before he could head Cooks cross into an empty net. Cook made no mistake this time from the resultant penalty.

Cook increased the lead further when a fine run from Midgley left him clean through to score giving the keeper no chance. Midgley then added number five himself. After another run down the right he cut inside the fullback and his left foot shot from the edge of the box found the back of the net. Cook completed the scoring in the final minute to claim his hat trick. After being played through by Baresi he shot low past the advancing keeper into the net. 

Star Man  Rhys Cook (Timsbury)

Rob Veater

Timsbury’s brief flirtation with the West of England Premier League (Bristol and North Somerset) ended after just one season. Defeat at home to Knowle confirmed their relegation back to the Bristol and District League Senior Division. It has been a challenging experience for the village side competing with sides with much greater resources and overseas players but one which, despite the results, the players have thoroughly enjoyed.

Batting first Knowle faced just over five overs before heavy rain saw play held up for nearly an hour and reduced the game to 42 overs each. Graeme Webb opening the bowling for the home side made early inroads into the Knowle innings and despite a quick 25 from prolific South African batsman Darryl Losper the visitors were struggling at 41-3. Webb was to return the excellent figures of 4-33 but 46 from Fred Barton and 32 from Ian Mills saw Knowle eventually reach 167 before they were dismissed with just three balls of their innings remaining.

When Timsbury replied they got off to the worst possible start with Mark Sage bowled off the first ball. Fellow opener Adam Brinkworth took the attack to the visitors with a breezy 22 but apart from skipper Jon Strand who finished 15 not out, no other batsman reached double figures. Oliver Haynes (5-40) and Sam Britton (4-23) did the damage before skipper Joe Brimble ended the innings with Timsbury on a disappointing 91.

Timsbury seconds ended the season in fine style winning by six wickets away to Saltford Fairway in the Bristol and District League Division 7. Dan Hill who has discovered a new life as a bowler took 4-14 as the home side were dismissed for 129, Nilesh Vaz  top scoring for Saltford Fairway with 32. Skipper Ben Hosford then spearheaded the visitors’ reply with 54 and with Greg Passingham undefeated on 38 Timsbury cruised home with plenty to spare.

Malcolm Tucker