A goal a minute from the end of normal time from Ross Padfield rescued a point for second-placed Timsbury Athletic in a highly entertaining local derby at home to Welton Rovers Reserves in the Somerset County League Division Two East. A strong wind and periods of driving rain had a significant impact on the game, with the visitors dominating the first half playing down the slope and Timsbury coming back strongly in the second period.

Timsbury were under pressure during large spells of the first half and it needed some resilient defending and some wasteful finishing to restrict Welton to a single goal advantage at the break. Rhys Cook had the ball in the Timsbury net early on, only to have the strike ruled out for offside. A powerful free kick from Billy Cooper was just too high and then a great cross from the Welton full-back and Captain, Matthew Parsons, was headed wide by Chris Sheppard.

The breakthrough eventually came after 36 minutes, when Cook shot through a crowded area to beat Ben Paisey in the home goal.

Continuing to force the pace, Welton could have added more before half-time, but Jack Mounty twice shot wide with good chances.

The second half was a different story and Dave Percival, who impressed up front for the home side, hit a post early on after weaving an opening for himself. A free kick from Andy Catley, who excelled for the visitors, was just too high before Mark Hancock found the bounce of the ball too much for him at the other end, shooting over from a great position.

As Timsbury pressed for the equaliser, a tantalising free kick from Padfield found Craig Dowling unmarked on the far post, but his well-struck shot was blocked by the Welton defence. With time running out and with a rainbow overhead, Timsbury at last found their own pot of gold when Padfield used his educated left foot to strike a crisp shot past Dan Tamblyn in the Welton goal.

Dave Percival was the Ford Fuel Oils Timsbury Man of the Match, with Andy Catley Welton's star man. Before the match, Timsbury Manager, Dom Eatherden, and Club Captain, Ben Hancock, received a new set of training tops donated by Woodstone Skip Hire and Allen Residential.

Malcolm Tucker