Timsbury Athletic 1 Chilcompton Sports 1 (5-6 penalties )

First Division Timsbury Athletic twice came within one successful penalty of knocking out another Premier League side in the Uhlsport Somerset County League Cup competition for Premier and Division One sides, but in the end, it was Chilcompton Sports who prevailed to win the penalty shoot-out 6–5. It came after an entertaining 1–1 draw in front of a sizeable local crowd.

The visiting Chilcompton team could not have got off to a better start, with Harry Barter heading powerfully home from Jack Smith’s cross as early as the seventh minute. In another dangerous break, Jesse Bishop did well to block an effort from Monty Burgess before Timsbury equalised after 15 minutes. Chris Midgley was brought down in the box and Rhys Cook confidently converted the penalty.

Ashton Tucker, in the Timsbury goal, did well to turn a clean strike from Burgess over the bar while at the other end, a shot from distance from Liam Craze was comfortably held by Adam Garlick. Garlick was then in action again cutting out a telling cross from Callum Taylor after a slick Timsbury move, while Chilcompton twice threatened with Sam Cottle heading over the bar and Dane Edwards forcing Tucker to save well with a strong header.

Timsbury made a confident start to the second half with Matt Brooks just wide with a header from Craze’s cross and then Reuben Hobbs striking the inside of the post with Garlick well beaten. Back came the visitors and it was their turn to curse their luck as Ryan Allen also struck the woodwork after a quick counter-attack.

Cook broke clear for the home side only to see the advancing Garlick save well and at the other end, Matthaus Curtis shot over the top with a good chance for Chilcompton. A smart inter-change of passes between Ebner Heatley and Cook again saw the latter race clear, only to be denied once more by Garlick.

1–1 at full-time then forced the dreaded penalty shoot-out with Chilcompton ~eventually coming out on top to move through to the next round after an

enthralling contest.

Malcolm Tucker