Timsbury made it two wins out of two with a comfortable six-wicket win away to Pak Bristolians in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. It was made possible by a disciplined bowling and fielding display followed by a masterful undefeated innings of 97 from opener Mark Sage.

The Bristol side who had been champions two years ago began well enough with an opening stand of 46 but once the dangerous Shazail Mustafa had fallen to Sam Hoddinott for 22 the home side lost wickets at regular intervals. Fellow opener Saqib Butt showed admirable patience for a dogged 43 and Qasir Abbas (25) threatened briefly before falling to a spectacular catch by stand-in keeper Dan Hill. Hoddinott (2-25), Jon Strand (2-25), Neil Hucker (2-32) and skipper Steve Clothier (2-35) all bowled well and the Bristolians found it difficult to breach some astute field placings.

In reply Timsbury lost Gary Pearcy and Jack Williams early on and Sage and Kevin Sibley had to battle hard initially against some probing spin bowling from Saqib Butt and Qasir Abbas. Gradually however, the two batsmen got the upper hand and a couple of big overs saw Timsbury well on their way. The two batsmen added 101 and when Sibley was adjudged lbw for an invaluable 24 the visitors were nearly there. The only remaining question was whether Sage would be rewarded with a well deserved century but in the end the total was reached with the opener just three runs short.

Malcolm Tucker

After another excellent season Timsbury Athletic will be competing for silverware when they face Shirehampton in the final of the Somerset County League Cup for Premier and Division 1 sides at the Keynsham Town ground on Tuesday, May 15^th at 7.45pm. As a Premier league outfit the Bristol side will go in as favourites but after a season when Dom Eatherden’s side have played some of their most attractive football for years they have nothing to fear.

For the second year in a row Timsbury have just missed out on promotion but with only one team from the County League Division 1 going up that was always a tall order and the consistent Westfield side have deservedly earned that honour after just one defeat to date. After a great run in Timsbury have given themselves a chance of the runners-up spot in competition with Saltford. In 31 league games Timsbury have totalled 111 goals with leading scorer Rhys Cook marking his first year with the club with an excellent bag of 44 goals. Ellis Hancock is next with 19 and Lewis Blannin has 15.

It has taken Timsbury five rounds to reach the prestigious cup final. They began the campaign back in October when the won 3-0 away to local rivals Peasedown. Next came a bizarre 6-5 win away to Mendip Broadwalk followed by a 2-1 home victory against Burnham United. The team produced one of their best performances of the season to dispose of Somerton Town 4-2 before comfortably beating Castle Cary 6-0 in a one-sided semi-final. A large band of supporters will be at Keynsham on Tuesday to see if they can go one step further and bring home the coveted cup.

Malcolm Tucker

A goal in the early stages of the match and one in stoppage time were enough to earn Timsbury Athletic another three home points against Broad Plain House in the Somerset County League Division 1 East. It was generally a game with few highlights and had a definite end of season feel about it.

Timsbury were ahead in the 6^th minute when a neat build up ended with leading scorer Rhys Cook notching his 38^th league goal of the season. Jem Lutwama then found the net again for the home side but the effort was ruled out for offside. Ellis Hancock then had a goalbound effort blocked by the Broad Plain defence and visiting keeper Morgan saved well from Dan Mott.

In their best move of the half Broad Plain created a chance for Josh Scadding but he shot wide. Timsbury’s young debutant keeper Josh Wilcox saved comfortably from Brandon Marshall and at the other end a free-kick from Callum Taylor caused few problems for Morgan. Right on half-time the visitors thought they were back on level terms but Jordan Scadding’s powerful header was disallowed for pushing.

Early in the second half Jesse Bishop twice came close to increasing Timsbury’s lead but his first effort went just past the post and his second was tipped over the bar by Morgan. George Mullins saw his shot saved by Wilcox and Matt Bachelor shot wide for Broad House. Ebner Heatley enjoyed a busy spell for the home side but his first scoring effort was saved by Morgan, his second was wide and his third went over the top. In a late surge Joe Templar headed just wide for the visitors but it was Timsbury who had the last word when Cook set up substitute Lewis Blannin for an easy tap in.

Star Man Ebner Heatley (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic are through to the final of the Somerset County League Cup for Premier and Division 1 clubs after a comfortable 6-0 win away to Castle Cary. Two up at the interval the visitors scored another brace within seven minutes of the second half starting and thereafter the result was never in doubt.

Timsbury began strongly and after Rhys Cook had shot wide both Lewis Blannin and Ellis Hancock had headers saved by keeper James Stuart. At the other end a free-kick from Oakley Page was blocked by the Timsbury wall and another chance to Iwan Walters was cleared by the visitors rearguard.

The breakthrough came in the 25^th minute. Callum Taylor came up for an Ebner Heatley corner and headed past Stuart. Four minutes later Taylor was at it again ghosting in to head home George Zaharia’s free-kick. Timsbury keeper Jack Scrivens then came into the game saving superbly from a Keiran Frapple rocket. Stuart then saved well from Hancock and right on half-time Zaharia hit the bar for the visitors.

Two minutes into the second half Blannin raced clear and rounded Stuart before adding the third and five minutes later a clinical strike from Heatley made it 4-0. Timsbury were well on top and a long range effort from substitute Phil Wake, which flew well over the top, was all Castle Cary had to offer. Timsbury substitute Toby Neilson then saw his powerful shot parried by Stuart but Hancock was on hand to score the easiest goal he will ever have.

Charlie Elsworthy shot just over after a gallant home side kept going and Scrivens made another fine save from Wake. Neilson put the icing on the cake heading home Timsbury’s sixth goal from Cook’s free-kick as the visitors progressed to a meeting in the final with Premier League side Shirehampton.

Star Man Callum Taylor (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

A goal from Ryan Allen three minutes into stoppage time strengthened Westfield’s challenge for the title of the Somerset County League Division 1 East after a competitive local derby at Timsbury. It was harsh on the home side who had battled hard against a side who have lost just once in the present campaign.

Timsbury made a dream start taking the lead in the very first minute. Ryan Cook raced clear to beat Chris Wright for his 37^th goal of the season. It could have been even better for them just a minute later when Westfield cleared off the line with Wright beaten.

By the fifth minute Westfield were level, however. Allen pulled the ball back and Alfie Dix struck a confident shot past Jack Scrivens in the home goal. Free-kicks in promising positions for Timsbury by Ellis Hancock and Ebner Heatley came to nothing while an effort at the other end from Beau Baber was easily held by Scrivens.

Jimmy Hailston then embarked on a good run down the left for the home side but his final shot went just wide. As Timsbury pressed a well-struck shot from Jack Nix produced a good save from Wright while Hailston hooked over the bar after an accurate cross from Lewis Blannin. Baber then threatened again for the visitors but was denied by a timely tackle from Callum Taylor who had an excellent game for the home side.

Early in the second half a testing cross from Cook was held comfortably by Wright. An effort from Allen then brought Scrivens into action while Cook shot wide for the home side and Heatley headed over the top. A speculative shot from distance from Sam Gregory for Westfield was wide of the post while a long free-kick from Bradley Beauchamp finished safely in the hands of Scrivens. As the game moved into stoppage time Westfield grabbed the winner when a rare defensive mistake left Allen clear and he took the chance with aplomb.

Malcolm Tucker