Timsbury Athletic are through to the third round of the Somerset Senior Cup after a 4-1 home win against Highridge Utd . In the end it was a comfortable victory for the home side although the visitors from the Bristol and District League kept battling to the end.
Rico Sobers was in early action for Timsbury shooting just wide and then volleying over from a fine cross from Rhys Cook. In their first meaningful attack Danny Clarke was just too high with his effort for Highridge but it was Timsbury who were creating the majority of the openings with visiting keeper Chris Devey forced to save well from a Sam Gregory free-kick and Ellis Hancock heading wide with another chance.
It was Hancock, however, who broke the deadlock. Devey failed to hold a Cook free-kick and Hancock was on hand to tap the ball home. At the other end it took a timely tackle from substitute Callum Taylor to deny Jack Deacon but was the home side who were asking most of the questions and a fine effort from Chris Midgley flew just over the top. After 35 minutes Timsbury went two up. Finding himself in space in front of goal Sobers failed to get a good connection but his shot trickled in past Devey. Hancock then headed over from Sobers’ cross and was wide with another effort.
Early in the second half Midgley was again just too high with his shot and there was a similar outcome from brother Tim. The previous week Gregory had been commandeered to take over the goalkeeping duties in the absence of the injured Ashton Tucker. This week he was in his more accustomed role as an attacking force and he capped an impressive display with Timsbury’s third goal on the hour slotting home after being sent clear from Cook’s delightful pass.
With Tucker still out injured Timsbury turned to former manager Ben Hancock to don the gloves and after a quiet first half he more than earned his corn in the closing stages of the match. There was nothing he could do with Clarke’s penalty that revived Highridge’s hopes after 70 minutes but he then saved well from Deacon and made an excellent save from Sean Bryne’s close range header.
Timsbury were always dangerous on the break and with five minutes left Sobers wrapped up the game after being set up by Sobers. There was still time for Hancock to make another crucial save in a goalmouth melee as the home side progressed to the next round.
Malcolm Tucker