Another clinical scoring display highlighted by four goals from Rhys Cook steered Timsbury Athletic to a resounding 7-1 home win over local rivals Purnell Sports in the Somerset County League Division 1 East. The result was hard justice on Purnell Sports who enjoyed plenty of the play against a much-changed home side but who were unable to deal with the potent Timsbury attacking strength.
An early effort from Cook went just wide for Timsbury and Ebner Heatley saw his shot also finish just the wrong side of the post for the home side. The visitors then had a great chance to take the lead but Ross Davis’ well-struck shot forced a tremendous save from home keeper Jack Scrivens.
Timsbury went ahead after 22 minutes. Heatley’s clever lob hit the post but Cook was on hand to hammer home the rebound. Less than a minute later Cook was in business again racing clear of the Purnell defence before making it 2-0. There was no stopping Cook and he completed an eleven -minute hat-trick when he scored from the penalty spot after Heatley was brought down. Before half-time the visitors grabbed a life-line when Davis converted with a shot that Scrivens got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.
Purnell Sports began the second half in positive mood and Corey Rawlings twice came close to clawing back another goal shooting first wide of the post and then over the top. It was Timsbury, however, who grabbed the all important fourth goal in the 57th minute. Scrivens had just made another instinctive save before Timsbury went to the other end and Ellis Hancock headed home Heatley’s pinpoint free-kick.
It was a goal that opened the floodgates. The dangerous Cook raced clear to notch his 36th league goal of a prolific season, Jimmy Hailston struck a fine left-foot shot to make it 6-1 and substitute Tuso Makombe added the seventh after visiting keeper Tim Dowling had dropped a Callum Taylor free-kick.
Star Man Rhys Cook (Timsbury Athletic)
Malcolm Tucker