Mendip Broadwalk tightened their grip at the top of the Somerset County League Division 1 with a convincing 3-0 win away to Timsbury Athletic. The damage was done as early as the sixth minute at which point the visitors were two up and, despite a spirited effort at the start of the second half from Timsbury, the result was never really in doubt.

Mendip Broadwalk took the lead after just three minutes when a terrific shot from Rhys Hickery flew into the top corner of the net. Jem Lutwama saw an effort disallowed for offside for the home side but almost immediately Hickery doubled his side’s advantage as he shot past Charlie Phillips in the home goal.

At the other end Ebner Heatley was wide with a speculative drive but it was the league leaders who were calling the tune and Dean Maggs headed over from a Jacob O’Donnell corner. A miskicked  clearance from Phillips gave Westley Hawkins a chance for a third but his hurried effort was just too high. Lutwama struck a powerful shot wide for Timsbury before Mendip Broadwalk increased their lead on the stroke of half-time. An O’Donnell free-kick came back to Jordan Hughes who made no mistake with a crisply hit shot.

Timsbury enjoyed their best spell at the start of the second half. Callum Taylor headed over from an Heatley free-kick, a cracking shot from Rhys Cook was well saved by George Brimble who then held a goalbound header from Matt Brooks. At the other end an unmarked Hawkins just failed to reach a cross from the left while Maggs wasted a great opportunity for a fourth goal after being set up by the impressive Hickery. As Timsbury’s effort gradually faded O’Donnell shot just wide for the visitors and substitute Gary Hancock hit a post right on time.

It was result that saw Mendip Broadwalk stretch their lead at the top to seven points while a rare home defeat saw Timsbury slip to eighth place.

Star Man Rhys Hickery (Mendip Broadwalk)

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic are through to the semi-finals of the Somerset Senior Cup after a 1-0 home win against Dorset Premier League side Westland Sports. It was a game where defences dominated with neither goalkeeper having significant saves to make  but for Timsbury it is the furthest they have reached in the competition for more than 20 years.

The winning goal came as quickly as the 4^th minute. After Rhys Cook had come close with an early opportunity Callum Taylor was on hand to steer a Liam Craze free-kick past Sam Watts in the visitors’ goal. At the other end Anthony Herrin curled an effort just wide but Timsbury could easily have added to their lead after 11 minutes when a fine ball from Jack Nix sent Cook clear but he failed to trouble Watts.

Taylor saw another goal-bound header cleared off the line but at the other end Westland had two free-kicks in dangerous positions. The first from Alex Murphy was blocked by the home defence and the second saw Henry Lawrence-Napier head over the top. Right on the interval another effort from the visitors saw Nick Voss shoot too high.

An early effort from Herrin in the second half was easily held by Timsbury keeper Charlie Phillips who handled the ball confidently throughout the match. Toby Neilson then put a free-kick wide of the Westland’s post and soon after put a header the wrong side on the post from Craze’s free-kick.

As the visitors looked for the equalizer substitute Josh Payne volleyed over the top and captain Adam Barratt shot wide. Phillips dealt comfortably with an effort from Callum Thompson while an off-balance Jem Lutwama headed over the visitors’ bar. As Westland looked for parity keeper Watts joined the attack but, apart from a Payne shot that was deflected just wide of the Timsbury post, the outstanding home rearguard dealt well with all that was thrown at them to set up a famous victory.

Star Man Matt Brooks (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic scored six goals for the second week running in their demolition of lowly Wells City Reserves in the Somerset County League Division 1 but they had enough clear chances to have notched up double figures. The visitors battled gamely but were never in the match which was effectively all over at half-time when Timsbury were 5-0 ahead.

The game began slowly but once Timsbury took a 15^th minute lead the floodgates opened. Liam Craze’s shot was clipped into the net  by Rhys Cook. Two minutes later Cook acted as provider pulling the ball back for the unmarked Jem Lutwama who stroked home his 23^rd league goal of the season.

As the home side continued to push forward Cook’s pinpoint corner was headed firmly home by man of the match Jesse Bishop. Still the goals continued to come with Lutwama laying on the chance for Cook to end a frantic 10 minute spell with Tiimsbury’s fourth goal. In a rare attack at the other end Joe Kay had an effort blocked on the line before Lutwama, who had a frustrating afternoon in front of goal, missed two great opportunities to boost his goal tally. Ten minutes from the interval Cook completed his hat-trick with a crisp left footed shot which gave the busy Wells keeper Josh Bond no chance.

Substitute Ebner Heatley brought Bond into early action in the second half and Lutwama squandered another opening by shooting over. Soon after he gave Cook a further chance to increase the lead but he hesitated and was dispossessed. The home side’s sixth goal after 65 minutes was the best of the afternoon with teenager Toby Neilson striking a fine free-kick into the top corner of the net.

There was time for Timsbury to introduce new signing Dom Barresi and he soon featured forcing Bond to save and then clipping another effort just past the post. Substitute Olly Levitt headed just wide of the post for the visitors who despite being markedly second best never gave up.

Next Saturday Timsbury have arguably their biggest game of the season when they entertain Westland Sports in the quarter-final of the Somerset Senior Cup with a 2pm kick-off.

Star Man Jesse Bishop (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

A spell of four goals in 15 first-half minutes laid the foundations for Timsbury Athletic’s 6-2 home win against Yatton and Cleeve United in the Somerset County League Division 1. There could have been a lot more goals in a game full of chances but it ended on a sour note when skipper and influential midfielder Ellis Hancock was sent off 10 minutes from time.

Timsbury took the lead after 13 minutes when Rhys Cook found space for himself in the area and hit a fine left-foot shot past Emrullah Kahya in the visitors’ goal. Callum Taylor and Cook then headed over the bar for Timsbury while Sam Morris was just too high with a good effort for Yatton and Cleeve.

The home side increased their lead after 23 minutes when Jem Lutwama latched on to a through ball to shoot past Kahya. Another fluent home move saw Cook shoot wide before Hancock increased Timsbury’s lead with a superb shot into the top corner of the net. Still the goals kept coming with Lutwama heading the home side’s fourth before James Bird pulled a goal back for the visitors on the half-hour. Kahya was kept busy saving well from Matt Brooks and Jesse Bishop while Taro Viner headed wide for Yatton and Cleeve.

Just one minute into the second half Timsbury went 5-1 up through Hancock and almost immediately Cook had the ball in the net again but was ruled offside. Alex Bird hit back for the visitors with a cracking shot after 56 minutes to make it 5-2 and he almost had another soon after but this time was just too high.

A defence-splitting pass from Chris Midgley then gave Lutwama a great opportunity to grab his hat-trick but this time his shot went the wrong side of the post. It was left to Cook to add Timsbury’s sixth. Standing in an offside position the ball was diverted to him by a visiting defender and he made no mistake with the good fortune. Cook then shot wide with another clear chance before Hancock was given his marching orders for a tackle that gave referee Mason Bean few options.

Star Man Toby Neilson (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker