A headed goal in stoppage time from Jesse Bishop grabbed a late point for Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 leaders, Timsbury Athletic in a 1-1 home draw with Nailsea and Tickenham Reserves. But it couldn’t camouflage another disappointing performance.  Until  the equalizer Timsbury had struggled to break down a stubborn visitors’ defence in  a game that will not live long in the memory.

The game began slowly and it was 20 minutes before there was a semblance of a chance with Rhys Cook breaking clear for Timsbury only to be brought down on the edge of the box by Nailsea keeper Charles Lovell.  This earned  him a booking. Ebner Heatley’s free-kick sailed harmlessly wide.

Dom Barresi created another chance for Cook but the striker shot wide. Jack Nix’s searching crosses from the right caused the visitors some problems but produced no end result while in a rare visit to the other end Callum Vickery found the net for the visitors but Dan Elson had already strayed offside. Barresi  forced Lovell to push his shot around the post for a fruitless corner and then just before half-time Timsbury went down to 10 men when Bishop was sinbinned for speaking out of turn.

Early in the second half Cook had a clear chance for the home side but his shot was deflected past the post while a crisp half-volley from substitute Liam Craze was confidently handled by Lovell. At the other end Jake Murray brought Josh Wilcox into action in the Timsbury goal and Ellis Hancock tested Lovell with a crisply hit shot.

Timsbury were lucky to survive when a free-kick by Vickery from distance went just past the post but they were not so fortunate soon after when Dane Willshear put Nailsea in front with another well struck free-kick. Timsbury huffed and puffed but it looked like the second home defeat in a row before Bishop ghosted in to head home Craze’s free-kick.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury were very much second best in this 1^st v 3^rd clash at the top of the Uhlsport Somerset County Div 1, losing by a 2-1 scoreline.

In a first half of few chances it took until the half hour mark before any meaningful attempt was made on either goal, when a Burnham shot from 20yards by Whitfield flew just wide. This was followed almost immediately with the first goal, when Birch found Watkins with space to run clear into the penalty box and neatly beat the keeper to make it 1-0. Timsbury responded with a couple of long-range shots from Neilson, neither troubling Bailey in the home goal. On the stroke of half time Cook was unlucky to see his shot hit the outside of the post after being fed by Neilson.

Burnham had a chance to increase their lead early in the second half when a defensive header fell to the feet of Bradshaw who, with only the keeper to beat, shot high over the bar. Within minutes Timsbury were level, a through ball from Craize allowed Cook to evade the last defender before rounding the keeper to score and make it 1-1.

At the other end Timsbury nearly paid for some slack marking when Bradshaw was given a free shot on goal only to see it hit the post with keeper Wilcox well beaten. Hancock sent Midgley wide on the right wing before he cut inside the full back and then saw his fine shot tipped over the bar by Bailey.

The winning goal came after 25 minutes. A floated free kick to the edge of the Timsbury box should have been easily cleared but somehow they contrived to allow the ball to reach Burnham forward Watkins who was able to hook his shot past Wilcox to make it 2-1. With just over 15 minutes remaining Burnham were reduced to 10 men after Birch was sent off for two bookings. This should have been the signal for Timsbury to rally but in truth it was the 10 men of Burnham who looked the more likely to score. Timsbury failed to muster another clear cut chance and the home side were able to see out the game to claim all three points.  

Star Man  Josh Watkins (Burnham)

Rob Veater

Timsbury Athletic go into 2020 with an eight-point lead at the top of the Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 after a convincing 4-1 win at home to Broad Plain House. The damage was done in the first half when the home side built up a 3-0 advantage.

Timsbury were on the front foot from the off and after Toby Neilson had shot just wide, Rhys Cook headed the wrong side of the post from a Jack Nix cross. The breakthrough came on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when Jem Lutwama raced clear and finished well past visitors’ keeper George  Mullins. Six minutes later and Timsbury were two up with Cook collecting a telling pass from Josh Swarbrick and then  rounding Mullins to shoot home.

As the home side kept up the pressure Dominic Barresi shot wide from distance and Ellis Hancock forced a fine save from Mullins with a terrific drive. At the other end Joe Banks shot wide and Jordan Scadding saw his effort comfortably held by home keeper Josh Wilcox. Ten minutes from half-time Timsbury went three in front when Liam Craze’s free-kick totally wrongfooted Mullins  and finished in the corner of the net. The half ended on a sour note when Broad Plain captain Scadding was shown a straight red card and Barresi joined him after collecting a second yellow card.

Early in the second half a goal-bound effort from Neilson was blocked on the line before Cook tapped home Timsbury’s fourth goal after Hancock had hit the post. Leon Mansaray had a great chance to pull back a goal for the visitors but his free header was easily held by Wilcox.

Cook worked hard to create another chance for himself but this time shot over the top. Lutwama found himself with a great chance to add a fifth after an incisive cross from Nix only to see his effort from close range blocked by Mullins. Swarbrick embarked on an adventurous run through the visitors’ defence but failed at the final hurdle shooting  wide and Hancock headed wide from Craze’s free-kick.

The visitors staged a late show and after Mansaray had headed over and Archie Ferris had shot too high Dom Robinson grabbed a late consolation goal with practically the last kick of the game.

Malcolm Tucker

Mendip Crematorium was packed to overflowing for the funeral of a much-respected local sportsman, Jer Thompson, who has died after a long illness. The talented cricketer who played for a number of local clubs and who played minor counties cricket for Wiltshire, has spent the last 20 years at Timsbury. Here he inspired a generation of players both as a colleague and latterly as a coach, with the determination and drive that was the hallmark of his character.

Jer was brought up in Writhlington attending St Mary’s Primary School and the local Comprehensive. His outstanding sporting promise was spotted at an early age and he represented Avon Schools and Somerset at youth level. He also played for a number of local football teams.

His early cricketing days saw him playing for Temple Cloud before he moved to Bath where he was coached by former Somerset batsman and county umpire Peter Wight who ran his indoor school at North Parade. He played for Somerset second eleven but one of his great experiences was playing against Warwickshire for Wiltshire in the Gillette Cup where he faced South African quickie Alan Donald.

He was also twelfth man against the touring Australians. He was later to play for Midsomer Norton  and Keynsham in the Western League before being persuaded to join Timsbury by Darren Wilkins. He was one of the historic eleven which reached the National Village Final at Lords in 2006. In a tribute to Jerry all of his team mates came to the funeral dressed in the outfits worn at the final and Wilkins who has remained a close friend led the tributes with an emotional eulogy.

After leaving school Jer went into the building industry before joining Ford Fuel Oils where he was a driver for 25 years. He married his wife Anne-Marie in 1990 and they have one son Sol who plays cricket for Timsbury and rugby for Chew Valley. Anne-Marie said that it is clear from the many cards and messages that they have received that Jer had a big influence on people’s lives.

She said, “ Jer expected everyone to give maximum effort and had a great work ethic. As an individual he was very humble and never wanted any fuss. He was a devoted family man and his death will leave a big hole in our lives.”

Jer who is also survived by father Ken and sister Bridget showed the same determination in fighting the illness that made life so difficult for him over the last 12 months before losing the battle and passing away at the age of 56.

Malcolm Tucker

Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 leaders Timsbury Athletic had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 home draw with lowly Minehead. A heavy pitch and strong wind were never likely to provide easy conditions and fluent football was at a premium.

Timsbury had the first clear opening when Dom Barresi burst clear but his shot was well saved by Minehead keeper Kyran Wilkins who had an impressive afternoon.  Guy Burns shot wide with the visitors’ first meaningful effort while Liam Craze suffered a similar fate at the other end for the home side.

Chris Midgeley ghosted in at the far post for Timsbury to meet a telling cross from the right but failed to get the crucial touch. Chances were few and far between for both sides in a turgid opening half although Ellis Hancock flicked a Jack Nix free-kick over the bar and Burns threatened for the visitors with a strong run which ended with a shot just over the bar.

Timsbury introduced substitute Jem Lutwama at the start of the second half and he was immediately in action shooting just over. It was Minehead, however, who broke the deadlock after 53 minutes. Callum Barnfield exposed the home defence as he broke clear down the left and his accurate cross was forced home by Ellis Bone.

Two more substitutes , Corey Rawlings and Lewis Bond-Kendall, joined the action for Timsbury and soon made their presence felt. Rawlings forced a fine save from Wilkins and then crossed from the right only to see the centre too high for Lutwama. As Timsbury pressed for the equalizer Lutwama broke clear only to shoot wide while Bond-Kendall nearly caught out Wilkins with a snap shot that took the keeper by surprise. The corner conceded was to bear fruit for Timsbury, however, with Jesse Bishop heading home Lutwama’s cross to make it 1-1.

Wilkins again did well to deny Rhys Cook but Minehead also had their chances and Josh Swarbrick showed good defensive qualities to block a goal-bound effort. The Timsbury cause was made more difficult when Callum Taylor was sent off but they still came close to grabbing a late winner when Wilkins saved superbly from Bishop who again found space to head goalwards from Lutwama’s corner.

Malcolm Tucker