Timsbury Athletic produced a Christmas cracker of a performance to maintain their challenge in the Somerset County League Division One East with a 5–1 home win over Keynsham Town Reserves. On a heavy pitch, the home side looked particularly sharp in the first half when they established a 3–0 advantage and although the visitors came back strongly in the early stages of the second half, Timsbury rode the storm to eventually run out comfortable winners.
Timsbury opened the scoring in the tenth minute with an excellent team goal. Will Hailston started the move and Justin Dowling took it on, before knocking back to Ellis Hancock whose cross to the far post found Jimmy Hailston, who laid the ball back for brother, Will, to complete the move he had begun.
The home side continued to move forward with
purpose and after Ben Ward had headed over a Ross
Padfield corner, Dowling shot high and wide on another break. Keynsham were creating little at the other end and with thirty minutes on the clock, the home side went two up. Joe Parker broke strongly down the right and from his cross,defender, Jack Bailey, stabbed the ball into his own net with Will Hailston lurking.
Within a minute, it was 3–0. Will Hailston set brother, Jimmy, clear and he shot past the advancing keeper, Matthew Dunk. With half-time approaching, Keynsham at last began to pose a threat and after Timsbury keeper, Ben Paisey, had held an Adam Kay effort, Harry Crew headed over from George Marsh's cross.
The visitors came out strongly in the second period and, after 55 minutes, wasted a great chance to pull a goal back. Substitute, Jack Nix, was penalised in the box, but from the resulting spot kick, Skipper, Chris Gardner, saw his effort well saved by Paisey. Ten minutes later, Keynsham did get back into the match when a stunning shot from Kay flew past Paisey from distance.
With the visitors enjoying the advantage of the slope, Timsbury were now under pressure, but five minutes later, the home side regained their three-goal cushion. Craig Ryder put Parker through and his excellent finish gave Dunk no chance.
Kay again went close for Keynsham before Jimmy Hailston added his second and Timsbury's fifth with ten minutes to go.
The Big D Transport Man of the Match was Ross
Padfield (Timsbury Athletic).