Timsbury found themselves ultimately out-fought on the day and suffered only their second league defeat of the season, losing 1-0 to Hengrove, in this Somerset County League Division One East game.

On a wet and blustery day, Timsbury started with the wind at their backs and it did not take long for their first chance to arrive. Blannin lay the ball into the path of Cook, who dragged his shot wide of the goal with only the keeper to beat.

Hengrove keeper Greatbanks was then called upon to make a fine save from a Bishop shot. Next it was the home side’s turn to threaten, when after a corner from the right, the ball fell to Nicholls, whose goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Heatley.

Williams then had a chance to open the scoring when through on-goal, but his tame shot was easily saved by Scrivens.

Hengrove continued to hold their own, and another fine shot from Barratt shaved the cross bar. Timsbury were struggling to make full use of the wind advantage, with the tenacious tackling of the home side stopping them in their tracks.

With time running out in the first half, Cook finally evaded his marker to get a shot on target, only to see Greatbanks parry it into the path of Heatley, who was unfortunate to see his effort hit the post.

Greatbanks was called upon again early in the second half, when a Heatley free kick from the left was met by the diving head of Lutwama.

The decisive moment of the match came after ten minutes, when a long-kick from the keeper evaded the Timsbury defence – Scrivens was challenged by Knight as he came to collect the ball, which then fell kindly for Williams to shoot into the net to make it 1-0.

Five minutes later, Timsbury thought they had levelled the score, when another cross from Heatley found the feet of Cook, who fired home at the far post only for him to have been adjudged offside.

The disciplined Hengrove defence gave little away against the Timsbury forwards, until with fifteen minutes remaining they conceded a penalty, after Cook was needlessly fouled in the area while collecting a through-ball from Ben Hancock.

Cook got up to take the spot kick only to see it saved by Greatbanks. This inevitably gave the home side a lift; Timsbury struggled to make any further clear-cut chances and Hengrove deservedly collected all three points.

Star Man of the match: Aaron Greatbanks, Hengrove Athletic Res.

Rob Veater