YATTON & CLEEVE UTD 2 TIMSBURY ATHLETIC 6
Timsbury continued their good start to the season, despite having to recover from being 2-0 down at half-time in this Division One Uhlsport Somerset County League match.
After a quiet start, it was the home side who had the first real chance, when Mann was allowed to run clear from a long-ball over the top, but Wilcox in the Timsbury goal made a fine save with his legs.
Wilcox came to the rescue again when he pushed a fine shot from Welling around the post for a corner. From the corner, a needless push on Carpenter resulted in an inevitable penalty, which was well-converted by Bind to make it 1-0.
Craze found Midgley with a fine cross-ball, only to see his volley fly wide of the home goal. After 25 minutes, disaster struck again when a cross from the right reached an unchallenged Bishop ten yards out, but his cushioned header flew over the outstretched hand of the keeper to make it 2-0.
Timsbury were unable to respond, and their tactic of playing the long-ball through for Cook to chase was easily contained by the home defence. They were thrown a lifeline right on half-time, when a push in the back on Hancock led to another penalty. Unfortunately, Cook’s shot was saved by Kahya, and he then managed somehow to tip the rebound from Cook over the bar.
Timsbury introduced Heatley at the start of the second half in an effort to add width to their attack. Timsbury’s first chance fell to Cook after Heatley played him through, he turned inside the defender only to see his shot hit the bar with the keeper well-beaten.
On the hour mark, Timsbury reduced the deficit when a free-kick from the half-way line evaded the home defence, allowing Neilson to fire home from an acute angle to make it 2-1. The real turning point came a few minutes later, when a reckless challenge by Yatton Captain, Carpenter, on Hancock led to him being dismissed, leaving them with ten men.
Two minutes later, Bishop made amends for his earlier error when he neatly back-heeled the ball into the net after the home side failed to clear a corner. Within minutes, Timsbury made the advantage pay when Baresi was wiped out at the far post before he could head Cook’s cross into an empty net. Cook made no mistake this time from the resultant penalty.
Cook increased the lead further when a fine run from Midgley left him clean through to score, giving the keeper no chance. Midgley then added number five himself. After another run down the right, he cut inside the full-back and his left-foot shot from the edge of the box found the back of the net.
Cook completed the scoring in the final minute to claim his hat-trick after being played through by Baresi, he shot low past the advancing keeper into the net.
Rob Veater