Timsbury travelled to newly-promoted Mendip Broadwalk, and ended up second best on the day, losing 3–2 in this Somerset County League Division One East game.

Timsbury started well, with early efforts from Newton, Craze and Hancock all suggesting that there may be more to come. This, however, was their best spell of the game, which despite the closeness of the scoreline, was dominated by the home side. Milkins almost opened the scoring and Timsbury failed to heed the warning; with the next attack, a cross from the right found the head of Ayaabah, who beat Knight with ease to make it 1–0.

Due to high winds, it was very difficult to keep the ball in play, but Mendip coped with the conditions far better. Timsbury struggled to keep the ball on the ground, and were unable to threaten the Mendip goal. Timsbury went further behind on the stroke of half-time – Knight could only parry a shot from the edge of the box, which the defence then failed to clear, leaving Hawkins one-on-one with the keeper to calmly slot home to make it 2–0.

After fifteen minutes, Timsbury were back in the game, when good work from Tim Midgely found Nix, whose cross from the right was helped on by Blanning to Neilson, who, with his back to goal, hooked the ball home.

The only thing this seemed to do was inspire the home side, who, within two minutes, had restored their two-goal cushion.

A cross ball found the feet of Maggs, who managed to evade the challenge of Bishop, before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Knight from a very tight angle to make it 3–1. Knight then made another fine save, when Caines shot from distance, which swerved viciously in the wind.

The game became scrappy, and Timsbury struggled to make any impact. Then, with fifteen minutes remaining, another life-line. A fine cross from the right by Metcalf was met by the head of Tim Midgely, giving Brimble in the home goal no chance, making it 3–2. Finally, this sparked life into the visitors’ attack – shots from both Nix and Midgely called upon Brimble to save well. He then saved at the feet of Blanning, to deny a certain goal.

Despite the pressure, Timsbury were unable to find an equaliser, and the home side held out for a well-deserved win.

Malcolm Tucker