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