TIMSBURY ATHLETIC 4 NAILSEA & TICKENHAM RES 1

Despite a slow start, Timsbury eventually eased to a comfortable victory in this Ulhsport Somerset County Division One fixture.

The home side were on the back-foot from the kick-off, and it was no surprise that Nailsea took the lead within the first five minutes.

A long-ball from the back was helped on by Bracey, who found his strike partner, Collins, clean through, and he made no mistake, beating the advancing Wilcox in the home goal to make it 0-1.

Collins was unlucky ten minutes later, when his crisp strike from twenty yards struck the bar, with the keeper well-beaten. Timsbury were back on level terms after twenty minutes, somewhat against the run of play.

A high-ball from Ben Hancock meant that Allen in the Nailsea goal had to clear with his head from just outside his own box. The ball fell to the feet of Makombe, who quickly gained control of it and clipped a fine shot into the roof of the net, evading two back-tracking defenders on the line.

Wilcox was called upon to make a fine save from Bracey, which he pushed around the post for a corner. The home side took the lead on the half-hour, when Makombe picked up the ball on the half-way line and ran straight at the Nailsea defence, before threading a fine pass to Chris Midgely, who made no mistake from twelve yards. An Ellis Hancock shot curled just wide of the post, then Cook did likewise after good work by Heatley.

Timsbury continued to press in the second half, and Chris Midgely should have increased the lead further, but his final shot was tame after wriggling past three defenders. A rare Ben Hancock shot flew over the bar after being set up by Cook.

Nailsea’s best chance to equalise came on the hour, when Corneil dragged the ball back from the byline into the path of Bracey, but his shot failed to hit the target with the goal gaping.

Nailsea were made to pay immediately, when more good work by Makombe found Cook in the box; his turning shot was well-saved by Allen, but Neilson was on-hand to score from the rebound. It was all Timsbury now. First, a rising shot from Heatley just cleared the bar, then Makombe and Neilson combined well to feed Cook, only for him to drag his shot wide.

At the other end, Wilcox safely tipped a free-kick from Corneil over the bar. Further chances fell to Cook, Neilson and Makombe, before a fine run and cross from substitute, Tim Midgely, fell nicely to Cook in the box, who made no mistake, with a fine finish to make the final score 4-1.

Man of the Match: Tuso Makombe, Timsbury Athletic.

Rob Veater