A superb strike from Dan Hartley in the last minute robbed Timsbury Athletic of all three points in this entertaining Uhlsport Somerset County League Division One encounter but in truth it was no more than Uphill Castle deserved. It was a game befitting of two sides at the top end of the league table.
Timsbury made the perfect start when Ellis Hancock outjumped the visitors’ defence to head past Sam Beresford with just five minutes on the clock. At the other end Jack Scrivens saved well from Will Sneddon-Coombs but Rhys Cook then missed a great opportunity to double the home side’s advantage when he broke clear but lobbed wide with Beresford stranded.
Just two minutes later Uphill Castle were level when captain Jack Askins was first to meet a corner and headed home. A clever run from Chris Midgeley threatened the visitors’ defence but he was denied by a last ditch tackle. Uphill Castle could easily have taken the lead before the interval but first Dan Hartley rattled a post and then Aiden Mckenna hit the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Early in the second half Ben Harris was just too high with a great effort for the visitors while Hancock was wide with a header from another Nix free-kick. It was Hancock who was soon to put Timsbury in front for the second time when he hit a fine shot from outside the box past Beresford after good work from Cook.
Hancock was to blot his copy book when he was sent to the sin bin but Timsbury survived the period of him off the field although Harris missed a great chance when he shot over. As Uphill pressed for equality Hartley was well wide from distance and Askins had a free-kick from a dangerous position blocked. It looked as though Timsbury would hold on before Hartley’s late stunner saw the points shared.
Man of the Match Dominic Baressi
Malcolm Tucker