Rain ruined what looked like being a close finish when Timsbury travelled to Chew Magna for a traditional pre-season friendly. The home side made 186-4 in their 40 overs and Timsbury were 161-7 from 31.1 overs when the heavens opened.

The Chew openers David Lawrence and Steve Ive made an excellent start to the new campaign with an opening stand of 147. Lawrence notched up an undefeated century before retiring on 101 while Ive compiled 40 before being stumped by Adam Brinkworth off the bowling of new skipper Jon Strand. Sam Hoddinott bowled a tight spell of five overs for just seven runs but the most successful bowler was last year’s player of the year Kevin Sibley who took 3-28 from his eight overs.

Timsbury made the worst possible start in reply with last year’s leading run scorer Mark Sage bowled by Brian Brogdon from the first ball of the innings. Sol Thompson and Graeme Webb also went cheaply but the response flourished when this season’s vice-captain Brinkworth was joined by Sibley.

Brinkworth’s sparkling knock of 63 included eight fours and a six while the consistent Sibley made 29. Dan Hill was 18 not out and had just been joined by Strand when the rain had the final word. Mike Denning recorded Chew’s best bowling figures with 3-28 and skipper Charlie Thompson took 2-18.

After promotion to the West of England Premier League Timsbury begin their league campaign on Saturday with a home fixture with Bristol’s second eleven. The second eleven visit Bristol Pakistanis second string and the third team are home to Pucklechurch seconds.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic brought their home league programme to a close with an emphatic 7-0 win over Minehead in the Somerset County League Division 1. It was a fitting finale for team manager Dom Eatherden who is relinquishing the post after six years during which time he has revitalised the club’s fortunes.

Timsbury took the lead after nine minutes when Rhys Cook’s shot was parried by keeper Alex Pope into the path of Jem Lutwama who notched his 27^th league goal of the season. Toby Neilson then shot over for the home side and Ellis Hancock was just wide from a header from Cook’s corner.

Minehead posed few threats but in a rare attack Cody Truscott was unlucky with a terrific shot that shook the home crossbar with keeper Ben Hancock well beaten. Lutwama shot wide with another opportunity before Cook made it 2-0 with a superb shot from distance that gave Pope no chance. As Timsbury kept up the pressure Callum Taylor headed just wide from Lutwama’s centre and Ellis Hancock was also wide of the mark.

Timsbury went  three up within a minute of the second half starting when Tuso Makombe who  had an excellent  second 45 minutes broke clear to shoot past Pope. Five minutes later Cook turned up at the far post to grab his second goal and after 55 minutes he completed his hat-trick. Luke Howells shot over for the visitors but it was Timsbury pulling all the strings. Makombe again showed how dangerous he can be racing clear of the Minehead defence before rounding Pope and making it 6-0. Right on time he was at it again showing great composure in completing his hat-trick for Timsbury’s seventh goal.

Star Man Rhys Cook (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

Despite a slow start Timsbury eventually eased to a comfortable victory winning 4-1, in this Ulhsport Somerset County Div 1 fixture.

The home side were on the back foot from the kick off and it was no surprise that Nailsea took the lead within the first five minutes. A long ball from the back was helped on by Bracey who found his strike partner Collins clean through. He made no mistake beating the advancing Wilcox in the home goal to make it 0-1. Collins was unlucky 10 minutes later when his crisp strike from 20 yards struck the bar with the keeper well beaten.

Timsbury were back on level terms after 20 minutes somewhat against the run of play. A high ball from Ben Hancock meant that Allen in the Nailsea goal had to clear with his head from just outside his own box, the ball fell to the feet of Makombe who quickly gained control of it and clipped a fine shot into the roof of the net, evading two back-tracking defenders on the line.

Timsbury continued to press in the second half and Chris Midegly should have increased the lead further but his final shot was tame after wriggling past three defenders. A rare Ben Hancock shot flew over the bar after being set up by Cook.

Nailsea’s best chance to equalise came on the hour when Corneil dragged the ball back from the byline into the path of Bracey, but his shot failed to hit the target with the goal gapping.

Nailsea were made to pay immediately. More good work by Makombe found Cook in the box, his turn and shot was well saved by Allen but Neilson was on hand to score from the rebound. It was all Timsbury now, first a rising shot from Heatley just cleared the bar, then Makombe and Neilson combined well to feed Cook only for him to drag his shot wide. At the other end Wilcox safely tipped a free kick from Corneil over the bar.

Further chances fell to Cook, Neilson and Makombe before a fine run and cross from substitute Tim Midgely fell nicely to Cook in the box, who made no mistake with a fine finish to make the final score 4-1. Wilcox was called upon to make a fine save from Bracey which he pushed around the post for a corner.

Star Man  Tuso Makombe (Timsbury)

Rob Veater

Timsbury ran out deserved winners against the leaders of Somerset County Division 1 with a 3-2 victory, ending the home team’s 17 match unbeaten run in the process.

Both goals were threatened early on, firstly when a Neilson volley from 18 yards flew just wide of the Mendip post, then a shot from Hawkins was well saved by Wilcox at the other end. A fine run from Cook ended with a shot that was well saved by the legs of Brimble in the home goal. 

Timsbury took the lead after 10 minutes when Cook scored directly from a corner on the left. The ball flew over the keeper and the defender on the line only succeeded in helping it into his own net. Hancock was unlucky not to increase the lead further when he rose highest to meet a Nix free kick which flew just past the post.

Another Nix cross from the right was steered home by Cook, only to be ruled out for offside. McNeeley almost levelled the score when his shot from outside the box was just too high. Another Cook corner from the right was met by the head of Hancock only to see it cleared off the line to safety.

Timsbury were grateful to their young keeper Wilcox early in the second half when a goal bound shot from Medjeduub was acrobatically tipped over the bar. He was immediately called upon again to turn a Milkins shot around the post.

At the other end Cook was still keeping the Mendip defence busy with his pace and a fine cross from the right fell to Hancock at the far post who saw his point blank shot was somehow turned away by the home keeper  Brimble. Another Cook cross was finished off neatly by Taylor only to be ruled out again for offside.

Timsbury did not let this disappointment affect them for long. With their next attack Lutwama raced clear to fire past the advancing keeper to make it 2-0. Mendip struggled to threaten the Timsbury goal with Bishop and Rawlings in the home defence holding firm.

With five minutes left Mendip reduced the deficit when a corner from the right was stabbed home by Nicholls, only for Timsbury to respond immediately when a Nix free kick was helped on by Lutwama into the path of Hancock to shoot and make it 3-1. With time almost up Timsbury made life difficult for themselves when an attempted headed clearance from Barresi ending up in his own net. Luckily there was barely time to take the kick off before the final whistle was blown.

Star Man  James Rawlings (Timsbury)

Rob Veater

Last year’s beaten finalists, Chilcompton Sports, moved smoothly into the final of the Somerset Senior Cup after a comfortable 5-0 win away to Timsbury Athletic. The home side battled hard but in the end the Premiership side proved just too strong.

Chilcompton took the lead after 12 minutes. Jacob Sloggett won the ball on the right and his cross was converted by the unmarked Steve Bridges. At the other end Ellis Hancock headed wide from Liam Craze’s free-kick before some fine defending from Ben Hancock denied the visitors a second goal when he headed a goal-bound effort from Sloggett off the goal line.

Defender Dane Edwards then headed over the top from a Matthaus  Curtis corner for Chilcompton  and Kieron Robinson was also too high with a header after a delightful cross from Monty Burgess. A promising run from Chris Midgeley proved fruitless for  Timsbury while Sloggett was wide from distance for the visitors.

With half-time beckoning the visitors grabbed a crucial second goal. Former Timsbury mid-fielder Jimmy Hailston broke through and although his initial shot was blocked by home keeper Josh Wilcox, the ball rebounded towards the Timsbury line. The ball was hooked away but after a long period of uncertainty the referee and his assistant eventually decided the ball had crossed the line and Chilcompton were 2-0 ahead.

Early in the second half a tremendous drive from Sloggett rocked the Timsbury upright before the visitors went three up after 57 minutes. Burgess was brought down in the box and Robinson made no mistake from the spot kick. Rhys Cook broke clear for Timsbury but his shot was comfortably held by Kyle Phillips.

Just after the hour the visitors went four up. The unmarked Sloggett saw his first shot saved by Wilcox but the rebound fell kindly for him and he walked the ball into the net. Lewis Blannin broke clear for Timsbury only to be denied at the death  while Craze ballooned his effort well over the top. Right on time Sloggett put the icing on the cake for Chilcompton with his own second goal and the visitors’ fifth.

Star Man Jacob Sloggett (Chilcompton Sports)

Malcolm Tucker

For the second week running Timsbury conceded a goal in the final minute for a 2-1 loss, this time away at Burnham in this Somerset County Division 1 match in a game that they created the lion’s share of chances but only managed  to convert  one.

It did not take Timsbury long to create their first chance, a block tackle from Hancock fell nicely for Cook in the box but his shot failed to hit the target. Then Hancock found Lutwama free on the right, his goal-bound shot from the edge of the box was deflected onto the roof of the net. At the other end Wilcox in the Timsbury goal was called upon to tip a free kick from Lamb over the bar.

After 20 minutes Timsbury had the ball in the back of the net only for the referee to call the game back for a foul on the edge of the box. The disappointment was short lived as Heatley’s free kick was turned away for a corner by Will Lamb, but from the resultant corner the home side failed to clear the danger and the ball fell to Cook who made it 1-0. Another chance went begging when a poor clearance from the Burnham keeper fell to the feet of Hancock, his pass to Lutwama was then laid to Cook, but with the keeper scrambling to get back, his shot failed to hit the target.

Burnham started the second half more positively and it did not take long for them to get back on even terms. A floated Lamb free kick hit the corner of post and bar, it rebounded off the unfortunate keeper Wilcox and fell to the feet of Gates who rolled the ball into an empty net. Timsbury were now on the back foot, Bradshaw forced a good save from Wilcox, then he was called upon again to push a goal bound header from Whitfield around the post.

Timsbury weathered the storm and started to give the home defence problems again. Cook’s shot was parried by Lamb and the ball bounced up into the path of Hancock but his header cleared the bar from 12 yards. A shot on the turn from Hancock was only partly stopped by Lamb, but as the ball bounced along the goal line no one was able to get the final touch. Then Cook reached a Craze through ball before the advancing keeper he passed to Hancock for a certain goal only for Holley to make a last ditch clearance.

With five minutes left Lutwama failed to convert the best chance of the half. With only the keeper to beat, his first shot was well saved  but he got a second chance from the rebound only to see his shot hit the bar with the goal gapping. The sucker punch came in the last minute when a good cross from Stevens on the left found the head of Bradshaw at the far post, who rose highest, giving Wilcox no chance.

 Star Man  Russel Holley (Burnham)

Rob Veater

A goal in stoppage time from substitute Liam Crispin snatched a vital 3 points for title-chasing Keynsham Town Reserves in a 2-1 away win against Timsbury Athletic in the Somerset County League Division 1. In a fast-moving match the result was in doubt right up to the end but the visitors did well to overcome the handicap of playing the whole of the second half with 10 men after Chris King had been sent off just before the interval.

Timsbury got off to the perfect start when leading scorer Jem Lutwama continued his prolific season with a fine left foot shot that gave the home side a 12^th minute lead. Mitch Gerrish missed a great chance to equalize when he shot over after being set up by George Rooke and then the same player was also too high with another effort from long range.

As Keynsham pressed for the equalizer  Aaron Osbourne saw his shot comfortably held by Charlie Phillips and he then headed over from Rooke’s corner. Ebner Heatley’s free-kick for Timsbury was easily cleared by the visitors who went down to 10 men with King’s dismissal.

Early in the second half Matt Brooks headed wide from Liam Craze’s free-kick for Timsbury and Lutwama showed plenty of composure to set Heatley free but the forward overran the ball. Keynsham had the ball in the net but the effort was disallowed for offside before they eventually found a 62^nd minute equalizer when Jamie Noble shot past Phillips.

With play moving quickly from one end to the other Phillips saved well from Crispin and then straight away Ryan Perry foiled Timsbury substitute Rhys Cook. Noble missed a great chance to tie the game up for the visitors near the end but it was not to prove costly as a real mix-up at the back saw Crispin take advantage of Phillips’ indecision to fire the winner despite the keeper’s effort to save.

Malcolm Tucker

Two second-half goals clinched victory   for Timsbury Athletic in a hard fought tussle at home to Winscombe in the Somerset County League Division 1. Strong winds made it a difficult afternoon for both teams and it was a game where defensive qualities were tested to the full.

With the wind in their favour Timsbury came close early on with Toby Neilson just too high with a free-kick and Jesse Bishop heading wide from a Liam Craze cross. Winscombe keeper Nathan Freeman saved well from another Neilson effort while home keeper Charlie Phillips dealt confidently with a testing cross from Mike Flint.

A shot from Craze was easily held by Freeman before the visitors threatened with a good strike from Billy Manning that was deflected just wide of the post. As the interval approached Timsbury created chances of their own with Ebner Heatley shooting over after being set up by Jem Lutwama. The impressive Chris Midgley was also just off target after a dazzling run through the Winscombe defence.

The visitors came out strongly after half-time but it was Timsbury who broke the deadlock after 50 minutes. A fine through ball from Heatley set Lutwama clear and the home side’s leading scorer coolly shot past Freeman. Matt Ware then shot well over the top with a speculative effort for the visitors and Flint too failed to find the target for the visitors. Lutwama had another opportunity to add to his tally as he raced clear but this time he failed to trouble Freeman.

The visitors were enjoying plenty of possession but the Timsbury defence proved resolute and Phillips handled well when called upon. The crucial second goal came with seven minutes left. Midgley picked up a loose ball in the area and shot confidently home. In the closing stages Jack Nix rattled the Winscombe post after a fluent move but Timsbury had done enough to move above their opponents into fourth place in the table.

Star Man Chris Midgley (Timsbury Athletic)

Malcolm Tucker

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