FOOTBALL: Ilminster Town sides enjoy success in FA cup competitions

UNBEATEN Ilminster welcomed Stockwood Wanderers to the Archie Gooch Pavilion full of confidence after their great start to the season, for this first round Somerset Senior Cup tie.

It was one-way traffic right from the off with Ilminster on the front foot, and Brad Pitman produced a great bit of skill deep on the right wing where, from 40 yards and the visitors’ keeper well off the line, he was unlucky to see his shot come back off the crossbar.

Pitman then made a great run in to the penalty area where he was fouled - Taylor Jefferson stepped up to give his side an eighth-minute lead.

Pitman was certainly in the thick of the action out wide on the right and, after great work by Jefferson, Pitman was unlucky again as his first time volley flew just wide.

Kieran Manley, who was having a good match, and Brad Miles then both failed to hit the target with shots from distance as the home side completely dominated the first half.

Charlie Rutter had two half chances but could not capitalise as the Blues went in only 1-0 up when they should have been out of reach.

Stockwood improved after the break and missed a great chance to draw level when their centre forward headed over from a corner from a free header.

Ilminster regained control and Miles had a great run and shot that the keeper did well to parry - Rutter scored the rebound only to have his celebrations cut short by an offside flag.

Finally the Blues did score their second when Pitman again delivered a great cross in to the box and Jefferson finished from close range for his fourth goal of the season.

All in all this was a very professional performance and a second clean sheet in a row.

Sam Tratt, up from the Reserves, had a fine game at centre-half along with Doug Whitfield, but the difference was once again the finishing of Jefferson and the industry of Pitman who was involved in everything.

Ilminster: Chris May, Luke Paul, Adam Male, Sam Tratt, Doug Whitfield, Brad Pitman, Brad Miles, Kieran Manley, Ben Pitman, Charlie Rutter, Taylor Jefferson. Subs Used: Alex Paul, Davi Rodriques, Darren Manley

Ilminster travel to Stockwood Green on Saturday (ko 3pm).

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ILMINSTER LADIES (from left): back row - Sam Clarke, Lesley Spearing, Sarah Miller, Meg Purchase, Craig Stuckey, Charlie Pettinger, Dee Clarke-Trott Cracknell, Amy Burge, Casper Paine; front row - Dana Andrews, Shannon Crouch, Colette Martin, Charlotte Johnson, Maisie Parker, Georgie Coward, Abbie Carslake, Daisy Charles.

Women's FA Cup - first qualifying round
Ilminster Town Ladies 4, Middlezoy Ladies 0

ILMINSTER Town Ladies started their campaign with a comfortable victory over Middlezoy in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

Ilminster started well, knocking the ball around nicely, and they opened the scoring on the half hour.

Maisie Parker created space well and played an inch perfect ball behind the defence to the onrushing Dee Clarke-Trott Cracknell, who took the shot on first time from just inside the area and finished well over the goalkeeper into the far right-hand side of the goal.

It didn’t take much longer for Ilminster to find the net again.

This time it came from an unlikely source in experienced defender Dana Andrews, whose volley from 40 yards dipped in under the crossbar for a goal of the season contender in the very first match.

The second half saw a change in momentum with Middlezoy applying pressure, but they never really tested Charlotte Johnson in goal.

Ilminster dug deep and managed to extend their lead through Colette Martin, who drove towards the Middlezoy defence, rode a challenge and finished into the bottom corner.

Town were not done there, though, and soon added a fourth goal.

Good work from debutant Georgia Coward down the right hand side led to Shannon Crouch’s shot being blocked, but only as far as captain Sarah Miller, who found the corner from the edge of the box.

It was a great all-round team performance from Town, with impressive performances from all.

Special acknowledgements for Abbie Carslake, who held her own in Town’s frontline on her first senior appearance, and player of the match Dana Andrews, who played very well and topped her great performance off with a superb goal.

Ilminster: Charlotte Johnson, Charlie Pettinger, Daisy Charles, Dana Andrews, Lesley Spearing, Meg Purchase, Sarah Miller (C), Dee Clarke-Trott Cracknell, Maisie Parker, Colette Martin, Abbie Carslake.
Subs: Amy Burge, Georgia Coward, Shannon Crouch.

This Sunday, the Ladies get their league campaign underway with a tricky game at Keynsham Town Development.