Timsbury finally ran out deserved 4–2 winners in a very competitive local derby at the Rec in Division One East of the Somerset Senior League.

Playing down the slope, Timsbury inevitably pressed the visitors into their own half, with the pace of Heatley and Blannin causing the Purnell defence problems from the start. Despite several fine runs, the final ball was lacking and Abbott, in the visitors’ goal, was not seriously tested.

After fifteen minutes, a Nix corner reached the head of Brookes, which although it beat the keeper, was cleared off the line to safety. Within a minute, Timsbury finally took the lead when the tenacious Blannin beat the last defender to the ball, and ran to the by line before laying it back to the on-running Heatley, who calmly found the back of the net with his shot from twelve yards.

Ten minutes later, another Blannin cross fell to the feet of Dowling, whose shot found the back of the net, only to be disallowed for offside. Most of the action was taking place in front of the Purnell goal, with the visitors limited to long range efforts that did not trouble the Timsbury keeper.

Nix was unlucky when his free kick from just outside the box was tipped over by Abbott, and Hancock shot wide when well placed, after a fine run and cross from Heatley. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Timsbury increased their lead with the best move of the match, starting in their own half a series of one touch passes that left the visitors looking like statues before the ball finally fell to the feet of Heatley, who coolly beat the advancing keeper to score his second of the match.

Purnell started the second half brightly, and within two minutes of the restart were back in the game when Timsbury’s defence failed to clear a corner, which finally fell to the feet of Parkes, who made no mistake to make it 2–1. Purnell pushed for the equaliser, but the Timsbury defence, ably marshalled by Hancock and Nix, held firm.

Timsbury regained their composure and started to push Purnell back to win a series of corners. Firstly, Hancock had a fine header that just cleared the bar, then from the next, a collector’s item, Brookes ran on to the ball to crash his header against the underside of the bar into the back of the net to make it 3–1. Within ten minutes Blannin added a fourth, when a through ball from Hancock left him one on one with the keeper and his shot found the back of the net.

Craze could have increased the lead further, when he shot over after good work from Blannin and Hancock. Again, Purnell’s attempts were limited to long range efforts. Then, with practically the last move of the match, Rawlings made it 4–2 after a fine run and shot led him to beat Hamilton in the Timsbury goal from a tight angle.

Big D Transport Man of the Match: Louis Blannin.

Rob Veater