FOOTBALL: Ilminster Town kick-off season with a point

ILMINSTER Town made the trip to Odd Down Reserves on Saturday (August 12, 2017) for their opening fixture of the 2017-18 season in the Premier Division of the Somerset County League.

The Blues started the game nervously as this was a team that had been put together very recently and changes had to be made through injuries and players being unavailable.

The nervous start was made worse as Odd Down scored within two minutes from kick-off with a well-taken goal from their centre forward.

Ilminster then began to grow in confidence and with the outstanding Carl Lazenby leading the line and they started creating chances of their own.

Lazenby was unlucky to have a goal disallowed after good build up play due to a handball, but Ilminster’s breakthrough came when Luke Paul cleverly intercepted a through ball from the opposition and set up a swift and flowing counter attack involving Brad Pitman, Jack Male and Taylor Jefferson culminating in a deft lob from Andy Whitefield as the opposition goalkeeper rushed out.

The scored remained level at 1-1 come the interval, but Ilminster started the second-half full of confidence and on the front foot as Taylor Jefferson was immediately denied by a brilliant save from the Odd  Down goalkeeper.

With Carl Lazenby pulling the strings and the pace of Jefferson and Whitefield causing problems Ilminster began to create openings for a second goal.

Jack Male combined with Jefferson again only to see his shot saved by the Odd Down goalkeeper.

But Odd Down then began to come into the game more and Ilminster defended stoically with good performances from the defence and notably Karl Davis who had to deal with a very good Odd Down winger.

Odd Down then took the lead after a goalmouth scramble and their centre forward finished well from close range.

Undeterred Ilminster pressed on and the introduction of Warren Gabbidon provided problems for the Odd Down defence with his physical presence and direct running.

This led to Ilminster equalising after good build up play and a good cut back from Andy Whitefield allowed Johnny May to bundle the ball home from close range.

Both teams had chances to win the game and Odd Down hit the post with the last kick of the game but overall a 2-2 draw was the fair result.

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