It was a disappointing start to the new league cricket season for Timsbury Cricket Club with defeats for all three teams. There was a huge gulf in the margins of defeat, however, with the first team losing by ten wickets at home to Frenchay but the third team going down by just four runs at home to Chipping Sodbury fourths.

The senior side were outplayed by a strong Frenchay outfit who had been relegated from the West of England Premier League alongside Timsbury in 2019. Having elected to bat first the home side lost Mark Sage in the first over and thereafter it was a catalogue of dismissals against a potent Bristol attack. Gary Pearcy and captain Jon Strand who both made 18 and vice-captain Adam Brinkworth (17) were the only batsmen to reach double figures as Timsbury were shot out for 78.

Eddie Williams (4-25) and Chare Smith (3-10) were the most successful of the visitors’ bowlers.  To rub salt in the wounds Reece Bevan (48 not out) and Mike Donaldson (28 not out) saw Frenchay home for a ten wicket win in less than 13 overs.

An innings of 151 not out from opener Roshan Perera was the deciding factor in the second team’s 57 run defeat away to Bristol Sri Lankans 1^st XI. He played a  fine innings but Timsbury will rue a number of fielding errors that proved costly. In an innings of 267-5 young Timsbury bowler Zak Cox can hold his head high with figures of 1-21 from his eight overs. After losing two early wickets Sol Thompson (73) and Dan Hill (65) came together to give the seconds hope but a mid-order collapse saw them eventually finish well short.

Timsbury thirds were happy to bowl out Chipping Sodbury fourths for 137 at the school ground. Chairman’s son Freddie Hosford led the way with fine figures of 2-14 from  his seven overs and  Matt Bryant took 2-21 from his allotment. Dave Nowell led the response with 28 but a spell of 5-19 from Mike Pearson proved crucial as Timsbury slipped to a four run defeat.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic’s disappointing start to the new season continued with a 4-3 home defeat to Wrington Redhill in the Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 after they had led 3-1 15 minutes into the second half. It means four defeats from their opening five games for a side that was on the brink of promotion to the Premier League before the lockdown curtailed activities back in March.

Rhys Cook had an early header saved by the visitors’ keeper Matthew Hill before Sam Harvey gave Wrington the lead after 10 minutes with a shot that Timsbury custodian Josh Wilcox got a hand to but couldn’t keep out. Rory Thomas came close to a second with an effort that just cleared the bar before Ellis Hancock was also just too high for the home side  with a header.

As Timsbury continued to press Cook laid on a great chance for Toby Neilson but his shot was saved by Hill. The dangerous Hancock shot just wide of the post before he grabbed the equalizer right on half-time with a towering header from Luke Seviour’s cross.

Two minutes into the second and Timsbury were ahead. In a repeat of the equalizer Hancock again rose well to head home Seviour’s centre.  Ten minutes later Cook was brought down in the box and the same player confidently converted the spot kick.

Timsbury failed to hammer home their advantage and it was the visitors who began to take control. George Fake made it 3-2 with a well struck free-kick and soon after Joe Creese snatched the equalizer. As the confidence drained from the home side Ethan Williams raced through to give Wrington the lead. A late header from Jesse Bishop came close to earning Timsbury a point but his effort was just too high.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury Athletic strengthened their position at the top of the Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 with a 4-2 home win against Wells City Reserves but they needed all of their battling qualities to come out on top against a side who pressed for long periods. Special guest for the day was the intrepid walker SpeedoMick  who called into Timsbury on his charity trek from John O’Groats to Lands End and boosted his kitty with the takings from the match and a bucket in the clubroom.

Timsbury came close to an early lead when Jesse Bishop won a vital header to put Rhys Cook clear but the striker’s shot was saved by keeper Josh Bond. At the other end Keiran Padfield was just wide with a clear chance before the visitors took the lead with a superb strike from George Carey whose left foot shot into the top corner of the net gave Josh Wilcox no chance.

Padfield then spurned another good opportunity shooting over the top and it was to prove costly when Ellis Hancock headed the home side level from Cook’s corner. As Timsbury kept up the pressure Matt Books headed just over and Hancock saw a goal-bound effort stopped on the line. The captain was not to be denied three minutes from half-time, however, when he again demonstrated his strength in the air heading home a Jack Nix cross.

Wells showed their intentions at the beginning of the second half but against the run of play a bad mistake by Bond handed Cook the chance to put the home side 3-1 in front. With most of the action in the Timsbury half Padfield had a shot deflected past the post and  Nix headed off the goal line. In the 65^th minute Wells did pull a goal back when Joe Reilly scored direct from a corner .

In a rare foray to the other end Hancock shot just past the post but it was Wells who continued to press and Wilcox saved well from Lee Cox and Cam Glendinning while Reilly shot wide with a late chance. To rub salt in the wounds Timsbury broke clear in stoppage time and after Cook’s shot had been saved by Bond ,Hancock stroked home the rebound to claim his second successive hat-trick. With news of Burnham’s shock defeat to lowly Wrington Redhill it proved to be a vital victory.

Malcolm Tucker

Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 leaders Timsbury Athletic bounced back to form in emphatic style with a 5-0 home win over Somerton Town. Captain Ellis Hancock led the way with a hat-trick  with striker Rhys Cook grabbing a brace.

The game in fact started badly for Cook who had an early chance saved by Somerton keeper Brian Hardy and then missed a fifth-minute penalty scuffing his effort wide of the post after Chris Midgeley had been brought down. Hancock had a shot blocked on the line and Midgeley put the rebound over the top while another Cook effort was saved  by Hardy’s legs.

Timsbury’s domination eventually gained a positive reward after 19 minutes when Cook had at last something to celebrate turning well in the box before shooting home. Timsbury’s keeper Josh Wilcox was the architect of the home side’s second goal. Taking advantage of the strong wind his long clearance found Cook and although his shot was blocked by Hardy Hancock followed up to score. Right on half-time Hancock made it 3-0 firing home after being set up by the lively Cook.

Within a minute of the re-start the double act was at it again with Hancock rising well to head home Cook’s corner. With the wind now in their favour the visitors came more into the game with substitute Robbie Haggett shooting wide from distance and Jacob Holland clearing the crossbar.

Timsbury still remained dangerous, however, and Cook shot wide with a clear chance while Jack Nix was too high with a free-kick.  At the other end captain Luke Thomas headed wide and substitute Nathan Harris shot past the post. Midgeley embarked on a dangerous run for the home side only to put his final effort over the top before Cook ended the match with his second goal forcing the ball home in stoppage time for his eighteenth goal of the season.

Malcolm Tucker

A headed goal in stoppage time from Jesse Bishop grabbed a late point for Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 leaders, Timsbury Athletic in a 1-1 home draw with Nailsea and Tickenham Reserves. But it couldn’t camouflage another disappointing performance.  Until  the equalizer Timsbury had struggled to break down a stubborn visitors’ defence in  a game that will not live long in the memory.

The game began slowly and it was 20 minutes before there was a semblance of a chance with Rhys Cook breaking clear for Timsbury only to be brought down on the edge of the box by Nailsea keeper Charles Lovell.  This earned  him a booking. Ebner Heatley’s free-kick sailed harmlessly wide.

Dom Barresi created another chance for Cook but the striker shot wide. Jack Nix’s searching crosses from the right caused the visitors some problems but produced no end result while in a rare visit to the other end Callum Vickery found the net for the visitors but Dan Elson had already strayed offside. Barresi  forced Lovell to push his shot around the post for a fruitless corner and then just before half-time Timsbury went down to 10 men when Bishop was sinbinned for speaking out of turn.

Early in the second half Cook had a clear chance for the home side but his shot was deflected past the post while a crisp half-volley from substitute Liam Craze was confidently handled by Lovell. At the other end Jake Murray brought Josh Wilcox into action in the Timsbury goal and Ellis Hancock tested Lovell with a crisply hit shot.

Timsbury were lucky to survive when a free-kick by Vickery from distance went just past the post but they were not so fortunate soon after when Dane Willshear put Nailsea in front with another well struck free-kick. Timsbury huffed and puffed but it looked like the second home defeat in a row before Bishop ghosted in to head home Craze’s free-kick.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury were very much second best in this 1^st v 3^rd clash at the top of the Uhlsport Somerset County Div 1, losing by a 2-1 scoreline.

In a first half of few chances it took until the half hour mark before any meaningful attempt was made on either goal, when a Burnham shot from 20yards by Whitfield flew just wide. This was followed almost immediately with the first goal, when Birch found Watkins with space to run clear into the penalty box and neatly beat the keeper to make it 1-0. Timsbury responded with a couple of long-range shots from Neilson, neither troubling Bailey in the home goal. On the stroke of half time Cook was unlucky to see his shot hit the outside of the post after being fed by Neilson.

Burnham had a chance to increase their lead early in the second half when a defensive header fell to the feet of Bradshaw who, with only the keeper to beat, shot high over the bar. Within minutes Timsbury were level, a through ball from Craize allowed Cook to evade the last defender before rounding the keeper to score and make it 1-1.

At the other end Timsbury nearly paid for some slack marking when Bradshaw was given a free shot on goal only to see it hit the post with keeper Wilcox well beaten. Hancock sent Midgley wide on the right wing before he cut inside the full back and then saw his fine shot tipped over the bar by Bailey.

The winning goal came after 25 minutes. A floated free kick to the edge of the Timsbury box should have been easily cleared but somehow they contrived to allow the ball to reach Burnham forward Watkins who was able to hook his shot past Wilcox to make it 2-1. With just over 15 minutes remaining Burnham were reduced to 10 men after Birch was sent off for two bookings. This should have been the signal for Timsbury to rally but in truth it was the 10 men of Burnham who looked the more likely to score. Timsbury failed to muster another clear cut chance and the home side were able to see out the game to claim all three points.  

Star Man  Josh Watkins (Burnham)

Rob Veater

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

Mendip Crematorium was packed to overflowing for the funeral of a much-respected local sportsman, Jer Thompson, who has died after a long illness. The talented cricketer who played for a number of local clubs and who played minor counties cricket for Wiltshire, has spent the last 20 years at Timsbury. Here he inspired a generation of players both as a colleague and latterly as a coach, with the determination and drive that was the hallmark of his character.

Jer was brought up in Writhlington attending St Mary’s Primary School and the local Comprehensive. His outstanding sporting promise was spotted at an early age and he represented Avon Schools and Somerset at youth level. He also played for a number of local football teams.

His early cricketing days saw him playing for Temple Cloud before he moved to Bath where he was coached by former Somerset batsman and county umpire Peter Wight who ran his indoor school at North Parade. He played for Somerset second eleven but one of his great experiences was playing against Warwickshire for Wiltshire in the Gillette Cup where he faced South African quickie Alan Donald.

He was also twelfth man against the touring Australians. He was later to play for Midsomer Norton  and Keynsham in the Western League before being persuaded to join Timsbury by Darren Wilkins. He was one of the historic eleven which reached the National Village Final at Lords in 2006. In a tribute to Jerry all of his team mates came to the funeral dressed in the outfits worn at the final and Wilkins who has remained a close friend led the tributes with an emotional eulogy.

After leaving school Jer went into the building industry before joining Ford Fuel Oils where he was a driver for 25 years. He married his wife Anne-Marie in 1990 and they have one son Sol who plays cricket for Timsbury and rugby for Chew Valley. Anne-Marie said that it is clear from the many cards and messages that they have received that Jer had a big influence on people’s lives.

She said, “ Jer expected everyone to give maximum effort and had a great work ethic. As an individual he was very humble and never wanted any fuss. He was a devoted family man and his death will leave a big hole in our lives.”

Jer who is also survived by father Ken and sister Bridget showed the same determination in fighting the illness that made life so difficult for him over the last 12 months before losing the battle and passing away at the age of 56.

Malcolm Tucker