A disastrous defensive mix-up, two minutes from the end of normal time, handed Stockwood Green a crucial share of the points in their top-of- the-table clash away to Timsbury Athletic in the Somerset County League Division One East. The home side had gone in at half-time 2–0 ahead, but the unbeaten Bristol side hit back strongly after the interval and gained their reward at the death.
Buoyed by their performance of the previous week, Timsbury began strongly and were ahead after just five minutes. Jem Lutwama crossed from the left and Ellis Hancock showed a cool head before shooting past Jon Rogers. Lewis Blannin then broke clear, before being dispossessed in the area and another fluent move from the home side saw Joe Parker shoot high and wide. Stockwood did get the ball in the Timsbury net, but the effort was disallowed for pushing. Lee Webb then set up Nat Brain for the visitors, but he too shot too high and Timsbury keeper, Ross Hamilton, saved comfortably from Ben Garland. Right on half-time, the home side went 2–0 ahead. A pinpoint free-kick from Liam Cruz was expertly converted at the far post by Lutwama.
Early in the second half, Brain set up an excellent chance for James, but Hamilton did well to block his close-range effort. Rogers moved smartly to keep out a shot from Parker before Stockwood reduced the arrears. A well struck free-kick from Dan Twomey eluded the home defensive wall and keeper, Hamilton, was a mere bystander as the ball hit the back of the net. At the other end, Rogers did well to save a long-range effort from Cruz and Ellis Hancock headed over from Cruz’s free-kick.
In the keenly contested match, Stockwood pressed for the equaliser, but Timsbury looked to have held out until the 88th minute. Home defender, Matt Brooks, attempted to head back to Hamilton, but the ball evaded the keeper and the alert James took advantage to prod the ball home.
Malcolm Tucker