In form Timsbury Athletic continued their climb up the Somerset County League Division 1 with a 2-0 away win against lowly Wells City Reserves. Despite dominating the possession the visitors made hard work of the game and were indebted to two clinical finishes by Jem Lutwama.

Timsbury pressed from the start and after Lutwama had shot over the top Rhys Cook saw his shot go just wide. Wells were depending on long range efforts with both Connor Linham and Toby Thompson shooting wide. Home keeper Josh Bond saved from Ebner Heatley and both Lutwama and Cook were wide of the mark.

Lutwama then rounded the keeper but went too far and his centre which found Heatley was blocked by the home defence. At the other end Timsbury keeper Charlie Phillips had to move quickly to deny Tom Fozzard but Timsbury should have gone ahead five minutes from half-time when Lutwama missed from in front of goal after good work by Cook.

The breakthrough came three minutes into the second half and Lutwama’s frustrating afternoon took on a positive note when he latched on to an Ellis Hancock through ball to shoot past Bond. Jesse Bishop shot over for the visitors and Liam Craze saw his lob held by Bond before Hancock hit a terrific shot on to the post.

After 65 minutes Cook set up Lutwama and the prolific striker claimed his 17^th league goal of the season. Soon after Bond denied him a hat-trick with a fine save and he made an equally good block to prevent Cook making it 3-0. A late strike from Linham flashed just past the visitors’ goal but generally it was a trouble-free afternoon for Phillips in the Timsbury goal.

Ten-man Timsbury Athletic shocked promotion seeking Saltford with an outstanding 4-3 win at home in the Somerset County League Division 1. When the home side lost Lewis Redwood midway through the second half the game seemed there for the taking for Saltford but Timsbury responded superbly. With front runners Jem Lutwana and Rhys Cook running the visitors’ defence ragged they claimed an unlikely victory.

Redwood’s afternoon had begun in a more positive manner when he headed Timsbury in front after nine minutes. The Saltford response was immediate, however , with Elliott Jones firing home the equalizer within a minute. The same player then saw a free-kick hit the home bar while at the other end brave defensive work from Iain Rider foiled Liam Craze.

Saltford took the lead after 34 minutes when a superb strike from Luke Woodley-Marshall flew past Charlie Phillips in the Timsbury goal. A fine ball from Toby Neilson set Cook clear for the home side but the striker screwed his shot wide. Timsbury equalized right on half-time with Ellis Hancock heading home a Cook corner.

Early in the second half Matt Brooks headed just wide for the home side while Cook wasted a free-kick on the edge of the box. Another inspired pass from Neilson then set up Lutwana who made no mistake to give Timsbury a 3-2 lead after 58 minutes.

Redwood was then sent off for a late challenge and Saltford took advantage when a Jones free-kick flew past a motionless Phillips to make it 3-3. Instead of suffering from the numerical disadvantage Timsbury took the game to the visitors and after Cook had hit the post with a cracking drive they took a 4-3 lead. Lutwama pulled the ball back from the far post and Josh Hopkins had the misfortune to shoot into his own goal. Lutwama had a great chance to tie the game up hitting the post with the goal at his mercy but Timsbury held firm for a famous win.

Star Man Jem Lutwama (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic produced another dominant home performance to beat Hengrove Athletic Reserves by 2-0 in the Somerset County LeagueDivision 1. It was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests and Hengrove were indebted to keeper Aaron Greatbanks who made a number of important saves.

Greatbanks  showed his colours early on with a fine save from Ellis Hancock and from the resulting corner Jesse Bishop headed wide with a clear chance. With the strong wind in their favour Timsbury continued to attack and after Hancock had shot wide they took the lead after 26 minutes.

Good work on the left by Chris Midgley was followed by a telling cross that was converted by Rhys Cook. Another fluent move involving Midgley and Liam Craze ended with another cross that just evaded Jem Lutwama. It was one way traffic and Midgley was crowded out after being put through by Lutwama while Greatbanks denied Hancock again with a crucial save.

Two minutes from half-time there was nothing the keeper could do, however, when across from Toby Neilson found Cook unmarked on the far post and he made no mistake with just Greatbanks to beat.

The visitors had offered nothing in the first half but early in the second period a looping free-kick from Mitch Purnell went just past the home goal. Timsbury were soon on the offensive again and Greatbanks saved well from both Hancock and Cook. Gary Shorney shot well wide with a free-kick on the left for Hengrove but the main action continued to be in the visitors’ area with Greatbanks denying Cook a hat-trick with another save.

With time running out Shorney and Scott Collier both volleyed over for Hengrove but it was very much Timsbury’s day with the home side playing some attractive football in difficult conditions.

Star Man Jesse Bishop (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic  completed the double over Long Ashton in the Somerset County League Division 1 with a comfortable 5-0 home win. It was a repeat scoreline from that on the opening day of the season and four of the scorers on that occasion repeated the feat on Saturday.

Callum Taylor was in early action for Timsbury shooting just wide from a long range free-kick and then heading wide. The home side dominated the possession and both Chris Midgley and Rhys Cook brought Long Ashton Keeper Neil Monaghan into action. Ellis Hancock saw his goalbound header blocked on the line before Jem Lutwama gave Timsbury a thoroughly deserved 25^th minute lead tapping in from close range. The same player then headed a pinpoint Taylor centre over the bar while the busy Monaghan saved an Ebner Heatley effort.

Continuous Timsbury pressure then reaped its reward after 38 minutes when Midgley rapped the bar after a fine run and Hancock hit home the rebound. Cook was twice foiled by Monaghan and the first half was into stoppage time when the visitors at last brought home custodian Charlie Phillips into action with a firm free-kick from Dennis Atkins which Phillips comfortably held.

Timsbury came out strongly in the second half and within six minutes had doubled their lead. First Cook ended a barren scoring streak stroking the ball past Monaghan and then a Toby Neilson cross from the right sailed into the top corner of the net. Long Ashton at last created chances at the other end with Phillips twice coming to the home side’s rescue with timely saves.

The home side continued to create plenty of chances and went 5-0 up with the best move of the match. The skilful Lutwama put Heatley clear with a gem of a pass and the latter rounded the keeper before shooting home. Cook came close to adding to his tally and Lutwama shot over with a clear chance while at the other end Atkins was wide with a free-kick. In the closing stages Heatley struck the visitors’ bar but the division’s bottom club suffered no further blows.

Star Man Matt Brooks (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Cricket Club will have a new First Eleven captain for the 2019 season. Jon  Strand (left) steps into the hot seat after serving as vice-captain to Steve Clothier  for the last four years. The decision was ratified at the club’s AGM which was held in the clubroom. His vice-captain will be wicketkeeper/ batsman Adam Brinkworth.

After another  successful season in charge of the 2^nd XI  Ben Hosford continues  at the helm with  Rob Clothier as vice-captain. Ashley Davis will once more look after  the 3^rd XI . The club also has a new President following the election of Malcolm Tucker who takes the place of John Newth who died earlier in the year after holding the position for 36 years. Nick Wareham was elected as a new Vice-President.

In his annual report the chairman, Austin Sage, said he felt the club was generally in a good place and he thanked the officers and Management Committee for all their hard work and commitment. Off the field it had been a sad year with the deaths of John Newth and Colin Weaver  but on the field both the first and second teams had secured promotions.

The first eleven are back in the West of England Premier League and Sage paid tribute to the efforts of retiring skipper Clothier. He congratulated Ben Hosford, the second team captain on a second successive promotion and  thanked Ashley Davis for all his work in bringing on the young players in the third eleven.

Jerry Thompson and his son Sol had once again worked tirelessly to organise the Under 19s in their popular Friday-night matches while Greg Passingham, Adam Brinkworth and the youth team coaches were thanked for their work with the young players of the club. The All Stars nights had again been a great success.

Ian Ettle was thanked for supervising the annual Clubmark health check, Gordon Stewart and his helpers for the barbecues and Mike Passingham for sourcing the grants. The clubhouse upgrade with a new bar and electrical installations was now complete and Sage made a commitment to continue with the upgrade of the club’s infrastructure. The new nets and covers had made the club a more professional outfit.

The chairman was thanked for all his hard work in maintaining such a great atmosphere in the club.

Officers elected were:

President   Malcolm Tucker

Chairman Austin Sage  Vice-Chairman   Mark Sage

Captain 1^st XI   Jon Strand  Vice-captain   Adam Brinkworth

Captain 2^nd XI  Ben Hosford

Vice-captain  2^nd XI  Rob Clothier

Captain A  XI   Ashley Davis

Secretary   Mike Passingham

Treasurer   Ben Curtis   Fixture Secretary   Martyn Sage

Management Committee   Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Captain, M Sage,  N Day, R Clothier, N Hucker, A Davis, P Cracknell, G Stewart,  I Ettle, J Thompson, J Ford, S Thompson, G Passingham, M Bond-Kendall , S Clothier, C Rawlings and R Lane.

Bar chairman   Nigel Day  200 Club R Lane

Timsbury Athletic overcame the disappointment of a missed first-half penalty to eventually run out  2-0 home winners over Staplegrove in the Somerset County League Division 1. After a goalless first half it took two quality finishes from the home side after the break to claim the points.

Rhys Cook broke through early for Timsbury but totally miscued his shot. Jem Lutwama also had two early chances for the home side before they had a great opportunity to open the scoring after 20 minutes when Chris Midgley was brought down in the box. Cook took the spot-kick but was denied by a fine save from Staplegrove keeper Shaun Locke who pushed his kick on to the post.

As Timsbury continued to dominate Matt Brooks saw his header cleared off the line and Locke made a fine save from Liam Craze’s well-struck shot from distance. At the other end Matt Pounde shot high and wide and Miles Quick was also off target. Joe Wilkinson then came close to breaking the deadlock for Staplegrove but was denied by a smart save from home keeper Charlie Phillips. Cook then linked up well with Ellis Hancock but the latter’s effort was wide of the mark.

Early in the second half Phillips dealt confidently with a Miles Quick shot while Hancock saw his shot held by Locke. As the visitors enjoyed a greater share of the ball James Rowley shot over the top and a great strike from Jason Quick sailed just too high. Brooks again saw a header saved by Locke before Timsbury took a 66^th minute lead. Cook broke clear on the left before pulling the ball back to Hancock who hit a fine shot past Locke.

The impressive Locke made another  important save to deny Craze who had a strong game in the Timsbury midfield while Phillips coped competently with an effort from Alex Pounde. With time running out Timsbury wrapped up the  game with a superb goal from teenager Toby Neilson that was worthy of winning any game.

Star Man  Lewis Redwood (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker