Malcolm Tucker reports, Tunley Athletic came out on top in their local derby with Timsbury Athletic (Errea Somerset County League Division Two East) to move further away from the basement area where Timsbury remain firmly entrenched. Timsbury proved the perfect host, presenting the visitors with gift-wrapped scoring opportunities with some disastrous defending.
Tunley created all the early chances with Jason Curtis poking his shot over the bar and Charlie Babb, Ross Lingley and Matt Doughty all wide with their efforts. When Timsbury at last threatened, Russ Davies was wide and Sam Gurner saw his shot deflected for a fruitless corner. Tunley eventually took a 28th minute lead when Timsbury keeper, Paul Cracknell, cleared straight to Ashley Blake who rounded Cracknell before shooting home. Curtis missed a great chance to increase the lead when he headed over an open goal and then Mark Hancock was desperately unlucky not to notch the equaliser when he struck the post with Tunley keeper, Andrew Ball, beaten. Ten minutes from half-time, the visitors doubled their lead when former Timsbury player, Matt Doughty, struck a crisp left-foot shot past Cracknell. Within a minute, Timsbury had pulled a goal back, however, when Joe Parker showed good skills in volleying home Mark Hancock's cross. Just before half-time, more loose defensive work from the home side saw Curtis break through to make it 3–1.
Early in the second half, Curtis headed over the Timsbury bar and Cracknell then saved well from Doughty. At the other end, Gurner shot into the side-netting and Lingley almost hooked into his own net. The game was decided when Timsbury presented Curtis with another chance midway through the half and the prolific striker was in no mood to turn down the opportunity. Babb could have added a fifth when he burst clear, but his shot was just too high.
The game ended with significant substitutions for both sides. For Timsbury, Ellis Hancock returned after nearly a year on the sidelines, while Tunley brought on club stalwart, Steve Parfitt, for a late cameo appearance.