Timsbury saved their worst performance of the season for this away trip to fellow promotion hopefuls Uphill Castle, where they were soundly beaten 2-0 in a very competitive Uhlsport Somerset County Division 1 match.

In a frenetic first fifteen minutes, both sides made chances without really troubling either goal, before Uphill took the lead. Timsbury failed to clear their lines when a strong challenge from Mckenna led to a fine cross from the right, reaching an unmarked Sneddon Coombs in the centre of the goal to head home.

Cook was unlucky not to level the score soon after when his goal-bound shot was cleared by the legs of Beresford in the home goal. Mckenna was guilty of missing a great chance to increase the lead when he beat Timsbury’s offside trap, but with only the keeper to beat pulled his shot wide.

Uphill almost gifted Timsbury a goal when their keeper’s clearance was closed down by Cook on the edge of the box, but he was lucky enough to scramble back and claim the ball before it ran free again. Beresford then produced a fine save to tip a Lutwama free kick from the edge of the box over the bar.

Timsbury’s defence somehow managed to stop Uphill increasing their lead when a goalmouth scramble in their six-yard box resulted in six shots on target without one ever crossing the line.

Late in the half, Uphill finally increased their lead after Timsbury keeper, Wilcox, was unable to reach another through ball before the Uphill striker Mckenna, who was then able to walk the ball into an empty net, made it 2-0.

Uphill continued to handle the conditions better in the second half. A Hartley kick hit the top of the bar direct from a corner, then Wilcox made a fine save from a Mckenna shot.

A long ball from Swarbrick found Cook on goal but a last ditch tackle meant his shot was easily saved. Cook then pulled another shot wide of the target from the next attack.

Despite owning plenty of the ball play in the second half, Timsbury were unable to make their possession count, rarely troubling Beresford in the home goal, and Uphill ran out worthy winners.

A special mention should be made of referee Steve Luxon, who handled the game brilliantly, allowing a very competitive game to flow whenever possible.

The star man was Aiden Mckenna from Uphill Castle.

Malcolm Tucker