Timsbury Athletic are through to the next round of the Somerset Senior Cup after a 5-1 home win against Clevedon United Reserves. In the end it was a comfortable victory but it took the home side a long time to assert their authority against a side from Division 3 of the Uhlsport Somerset Senior League.
Timsbury created a number of early chances. Rico Sobers had a shot cleared off the line, Toby Neilson chipped over the top and both Sobers and Ellis Hancock headed over the top with clear chances. At the other end Ashton Tucker had to move quickly to foil two dangerous Clevedon free-kicks before the home side took the lead after 22 minutes. Neilson’s shot was only parried by the visiting keeper and Sobers was on hand to tap into the empty net.
Within eight minutes the visitors were level, however, converting a penalty after a goalmouth scramble. Hancock was then dispossessed just as he was about to shoot after breaking clear before the home side went in front again right on the stroke of half-time. Once more it was the Neilson-Sobers combination which did the trick with Sobers finishing in clinical fashion after being set up by Neilson.
Timsbury dominated possession in the second half but took a long time to put the game to bed. Sobers, Rhys Cook and Hancock saw shots saved by the visiting keeper while Cook volleyed over the top from Sobers’ cross. At the other end Dominic Barresi cleared off the line and Timsbury were lucky to survive the goalmouth melee that ensued.
A great run from Cook then set up a wonderful chance for Sobers but the forward got his legs in a tangle and spurned a great opportunity for his hat-trick. Sobers soon made amends with a telling centre from the right which Neilson converted confidently to put the home side 3-1 ahead. The dogged visitors kept going to the end but a brace of goals from Cook wrapped the game up for the visitors.
Malcolm Tucker