FOOTBALL: Ilminster Town’s young guns hold table-toppers

 FOOTBALL: Ilminster Town’s young guns hold table-toppers

THE young Ilminster Town team gained an excellent point in the Premier Division of the Somerset County League when they held undefeated top-of-the-table Nailsea and Tickenham.

Jake Woodard was unavailable for the match on Saturday (September 9, 20178) at the Archie Gooch Pavilion in Ilminster so Adam Male was moved to centre half with Mike MaCormack making a welcome return in midfield.

The visitors were a big physically strong team but it was the Blues who started the brighter, with Charlie Berrington on five minutes causing problems with quick feet where he worked an opening for Brad Pitman on the edge of the box, but Pitman could not keep his shot on target.

Next Berrington picked up a pass inside the 18 yard box, and turning inside found himself with a great chance but the young striker could not gather enough power to trouble the keeper.

At the midway point of the first-half Nailsea played some great football with clever interchanging of passes and keeper Chris May done really well to push the ball wide for a corner.

The resultant corner caused confusion in the penalty area and only a great clearance from Luke Paul stopped a goal.

Just before half-time Charlie Rutter worked hard to put the defence under pressure and when the defender passed back to his keeper, Berrington blocked the clearance which fell to MaCormack whose first time half volley flew just wide.

The second-half began with Ilminster playing well against their experienced opponents but no more real clear cut chances were created, the best chance result from a goal mouth scramble that two or three players failed to convert.

With 20 minutes remaining Nailsea upped their game and pushed hard, they had a glorious chance but Chris May made a fantastic double save to keep the match all square.

The battling blues were now hanging on and from a cross the ball bounced on the top of the crossbar.
With five minutes now left Nailsea won a corner and as the ball came out and was crossed back in the centre half found himself free but could not keep his header down.

This was a fantastic battling performance from the young team who fully deserved the point, Adam Male playing out of position at centre-half never put a football wrong alongside the outstanding Jonny May who always leads by example.

The whole side worked really hard but it was Chris May who took the Man of the Match honours with three great saves and confident handling throughout.

Team:  Chris May, Luke Paul, Jonny May, Adam Male, Karl Davies, Ben Pitman, Brad Pitman, Jack Male, Mike MaCormack, Charlie Rutter, Charlie Berrington .

Next up for the Blues is Bridgwater Town Reserves away under lights on Tuesday (Sepember 12, 2017) night with a 7.45pm kick-off, and on Saturday (September 16, 2017) it is away again against Stockwood Wanderers.

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