Just a week after knocking Street Reserves out of the Somerset Senior Cup Timsbury Athletic were beaten 3-0 at home by the same opponents who claimed the double over the Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 leaders. Trailing 2-0 at the interval Timsbury dominated the second half but failed to make their territorial advantage count.

The visitors took the lead after just seven minutes when striker Sheik Njie burst through the Timsbury defence to hammer an unstoppable shot past Josh Wilcox in the home goal. As Street continued to press Wilcox saved an effort from Oliver Walby and captain Toby Davey shot wide. At the other end Rhys Cook burst clear but his effort proved fruitless before Street doubled their lead after 20 minutes with a fine individual goal from Richard Fowler.

Cook provided Jem Lutwama with Timsbury’s best chance to date but the striker shot well over the top. Street continued to look the more dangerous unit and it needed a timely intervention from Liam Craze to deny Njie his second goal. Alessandro Costanza missed two good opportunities to increase Street’s lead first heading wide from a dangerous position and then shooting past the post.

The second half saw Timsbury come right back into the game with substitute Corey Rawlings making an immediate impact down the right flank. Cook was just over with a crisp shot while Toby Neilson was well over with a free-kick. The home side’s best chance fell to skipper Ellis Hancock who shot over from point blank range after keeper Luke Roberts had parried Cook’s free-kick.

As the home side continued to press Jesse Bishop headed against the bar and Roberts saved well from Cook who had been put through by Lutwama. Street had offered little threat in the second half but in a rare visit to the Timsbury goal Davey found himself unmarked inside the box and tapped in for Street’s third goal. Late efforts from Rawlings and Lutwama were well handled by Roberts as the visitors comfortably saw the game out.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury claimed all three points, winning 2-1 in a very competitive game away at Somerton, to go top of the table in this Uhlsport Somerset County Div 1 match

Timsbury were grateful early on to their young keeper Wilcocks who managed to tip a low shot from Brown on to the post, with the rebound clearing the bar from the on rushing Holland. This proved a rare excursion for the home side. Timsbury having the advantage of both slope and wind kept them penned into their own half for long periods.

After 15 mins Timsbury took the lead when a cross from Midegley  on the right was headed back across goal by Cook. This was only half cleared to Nielson on the edge of the box who volleyed an unstoppable shot past Hardy in to home goal to make it 1-0.

In difficult conditions Timsbury failed to make the most of their advantage with the home defence limiting them to long range shots and half chances even when they were reduced to 10 men when Dyer was sin binned for 10 minutes. Wilcocks was called upon again to make a fine save with his legs after Brown found himself with a clear shot on goal. Hancock ended the half with a goal-bound shot only to see it parried away by Somerton keeper Hardy.

The roles were reversed in the second half with Somerton taking full advantage of the conditions and pressing hard for an equaliser. Brooks was called upon to make a last ditch tackle to thwart Dyer who was through on goal. The inevitable happened barely 10 minutes in when a low cross from the right by Brown across the six yard box fell to Holland who made no mistake in making it 1-1.

Within minutes Somerton were guilty of missing the chance to take the lead, when Holland’s cross from the right fell to the feet of Dyer who somehow blazed over with the goal at his mercy. Timsbury were grateful to the pace of Cook and Lutwama who at times were able to relieve the pressure on their defence and in turn causing a threat to the home goal.

Against the run of play it was this combination that gave Timsbury the lead again after 20 minutes. Hancock fed Cook down the left who ran to the by line and crossed for Lutwama, who got in front of the last defender to shoot home and make it 2-1. This unsettled the home side and they lost their way in the second half, resulting in them hitting long balls which were easily dealt with by the Timsbury defence.  Somerton might have snatched a point late on when a goal-mouth scramble was somehow kept out, despite several close range efforts from the Somerton attack.

 Star Man  Gem Lutwama (Timsbury)

Rob Veater

The clubroom of Timsbury Cricket Club was packed for the annual Presentation Evening with all three teams well represented. It had been a difficult season for the first eleven but this had not been reflected in the club atmosphere which remained buoyant throughout the campaign.

 Club Chairman Austin Sage praised the efforts of all the players and was delighted with the number of people working for the club. He thanked Matt and Adam Brinkworth for their work with the youth sides and James Rawlings for organising the under 19s matches.

Lloyd Davies had worked hard training the senior players. Dave Perryman and Martyn Sage had toiled hard to produce good playing surfaces for the teams on the main ground and at the school and Martyn received a well-deserved award for his consistently hard work.

The Chairman announced that there were initial plans to extend the clubroom but stressed that these were still early days for the plans.  In appreciation of their efforts flowers were presented to Ann Sage, Rita Day, Cheryl Bradley, Eve Bird, Claire Sage,  and Mel Hosford.

There were some excellent speeches from the three senior captains. Ashley Davis who is standing down after seven memorable years as third team skipper, and who was later voted club person of the year, said that his side had experienced a difficult year on the field with just three wins but felt that the 27 players who had represented the club had enjoyed their games . Matthew Ball was again the top batsman with Josh Blanchard the leading bowler. Teenager Oliver Hulbert was player of the season.

Ben Hosford in his third year as second team captain said that after a slow start the team was not far from achieving promotion for the third year in a row but the side eventually finished fourth in the Bristol and District League Division 7. He commended Greg Passingham on a fine all-round season and leading run scorer Adam Workman who scored 419 runs and was second team player of the year.

Gary Pearcy was the most successful bowler with 19 wickets. The most important thing he said was that there had been an excellent atmosphere in the side and players looked as though they were really enjoying themselves.

Jon Strand could not have had a more testing baptism as first team captain and the team managed just three wins in the West of England Premier League. The skipper remained upbeat, however, and praised the efforts of the players against sides with overseas players and much greater resources.

Mark Sage had again spearheaded the batting and got the side off to a number of good starts alongside Adam Brinkworth whose batting and excellent wicketkeeping earned him the player of the year award. On the bowling front Sam Hoddinott was praised by the captain for his economical spells and there were good returns from Steve Clothier and Neil Hucker. Despite a challenging year on the field Strand said there remained a vibrant atmosphere throughout the season.

Another successful evening concluded with first team all-rounder Graeme Webb giving his own personal recollections of the 2019 season.

The annual awards were as follows:

Youth section

Most improved Junior (Eddie Strong Trophy) Angus Martin 

Best performance by a Junior (Graham Bryant Trophy) Ben Smith

Outstanding teenager (S G Taylor Memorial Cup) Joe Kinnear

Biggest 6 Under 15 and below (Steve Nowell Challenge Cup ) Ben Smith

Club ties Ben Smith, Josh Blanchard

Senior section

Club caps   Will Rawlings, Oli Davis, Josh Blanchard

Fastest 50  (John Newth Cup) Rob Clothier

Best individual performance  (S G Taylor Cup) Kevin Sibley

First team Player of the Year (Sage Family Trophy) Adam Brinkworth

Second team Player of the Year (Malcolm Tucker Cup) Adam Workman

Third team Player of the Year  (Colin Weaver Cup) Oliver Hulbert

Clubperson  of the Year  Ashley Davis

Junior Clubperson  of the Year  (Roger and Eve Bird Cup) James Rawlings