Timsbury Athletic travelled to bottom team, Long Ashton, still with a faint hope of maintaining their challenge for an automatic promotion spot in the Somerset County League Division One East.
Both teams struggled in windy conditions to get the ball under control during the early exchanges.
Timsbury took an early lead after five minutes, when a good pass from Ross Padfield over the Long Aston defence put Justin Dowling through, one-on-one with only the keeper to beat, which he did with ease. Hucker, in the Timsbury goal, was rarely tested, but he did save well from a free kick from just outside the area. Timsbury, playing with the advantage of both slope and wind, had the lion's share of the chances, with Padfield coming close to extending the lead with a couple of fine efforts that flew just wide.
After 25 minutes, Craig Dowling found himself clear on goal, but his effort was thwarted by a fine save from Atkins in the Long Ashton goal. Both sides failed to add to the score in the remainder of a scrappy first half. Timsbury's job was not made any easier as they lost both Taylor and Craig Dowling to injury before the half was out.
Timsbury started the second half strongly and after five minutes, Justin Dowling outpaced the last defender, rounded the keeper, only to fire a shot into the side netting from an acute angle.
After ten minutes, Timsury finally increased their lead, when another fine run from Dowling led to him playing the ball across the face of the goal, only for the unfortunate Long Ashton defender, McGimpsy, to shoot past his own keeper. This should have signalled an easy victory, but within three minutes, Long Ashton reduced the arrears. A fine free kick from a full thirty yards by Morris, which beat Hucker at full stretch.
The home side could have equalised shortly after, when Parnham shot wide with only the keeper to beat. Timsbury were now making hard work of a game that on chances alone, should have seen them out of sight.
Timsbury continued to be wasteful in front of goal, giving the home side hope of snatching an unlikely equaliser, but in truth, Hucker was not troubled again during the final 25 minutes of the match, largely due the efforts of Craig Ryder, who played the whole game in an unfamiliar central defensive position, ably assisted by, amongst others, young Joe Hallett, making his senior debut as a second half substitute. Timsbury's travelling support were left breathing a sigh of relief when the final whistle was blown at last.
Star Man: Craig Ryder (Timsbury Athletic) Rob Veater