Timsbury Athletic 3 Nailsea and Tickenham 3 (4–5 on penalties)
Timsbury Athletic suffered the agony of a penalty shoot-out defeat at home to Nailsea and Tickenham in the Somerset County League Cup for Premier and First Division clubs after more than holding their own against the Premier Division leaders.
In an entertaining match, Timsbury were unfortunate to go in to the interval at 1–0 down and then showed plenty of spirit to come back from 3–1 behind to take the game into penalties.
The home side made an excellent start and had the chances to take an early lead. Joe Parker was just wide of the post in the first minute, Ellis Hancock struck a fine shot which Nailsea keeper, Jason Mellor, pushed over the top and then Lewis Blanning broke clear only to shoot wide. The visitors took time to get going before Josh Benjamin shot wide with their first meaningful effort and Chris Gregory saw home keeper, Jack Newman, hold his goalbound effort. Six minutes from the interval, Gregory broke the deadlock when he rose high to head home a Chris Gale free kick.
Seven minutes into the second half, Nailsea doubled their lead. Benjamin was left unmarked on the right and his shot was on its way to goal before Timsbury’s Parker finished the job off in attempting to clear. A rejuvenated Nailsea side now looked like wrapping the game up, and Gregory shot wide after being set up by Matt Pilgrim. The home side, however, were far from finished, and after 68 minutes, Hancock pulled a goal back with an excellent volley. Before they had time to celebrate, Nailsea immediately restored the two goal advantage when James Seeley’s cross was converted at the near post by Gregory. Undeterred, Timsbury reduced the arrears when the hard-working Jesse Bishop lobbed the approaching Mellor and in a dramatic finish, Liam Craze converted an 89th minute penalty after Blanning was brought down. Each side converted their first four penalties before Blanning saw his spot-kick saved by Mellor and Gary Freeman completed the job for the relieved visitors.
Timsbury Manager, Dom Eatherden, said: “I couldn’t have been prouder of the performance of the team. We more than matched the outstanding side in the Premier Division and it just shows how far we have come.”