Somerset Senior Cup first round
Ilminster Town 3, Ashton & Backwell Utd Res 2

IT was Somerset Senior cup day for Ilminster on Saturday, with Somerset County League Division 1W side Ashton & Backwell Reserves the visitors to the Archie Gooch Pavilion.

This must have been the youngest team the Blues have ever fielded as, due to the Perry Street League fixtures beginning, 17-year-old Charlie Berrington came into the starting line-up to play up front with Charlie Rutter and the fit-again Adam Male, while promising 16-year-old Jack Reid was on the bench.

The midfield consisted of Ben Pitman (21) and teenagers Jack Male (19) and Brad Pitman (18) and, back in goal was the most experienced player, 28-year-old Chris May.

Ilminster began on the front foot and took the lead in the seventh minute when Berrington hit the target with a powerful shot that the visiting goalkeeper saved, but Adam Male was on hand to convert the rebound.

Some great football led to the second with Luke Paul, Charlie Rutter and Jack Male all involved before Brad Pitman hit an unstoppable thunderbolt that gave the keeper no chance.

Ashton had some good players and their No 10, who was causing problems with his trickery, forced May into a good save with a free-kick which the goalkeeper parried on to the post.

Berrington then showed his pace again before finding Rutter who brought a fine save from the keeper with his feet as the Blues went into the break two goals to the good.

Ilminster started the second half exactly the same as the first, and when Berrington timed his run to find himself one on one with the keeper he showed composure beyond his years to score with a cool finish.

At 3-0 the game should have been over, but a lack of discipline crept in and a Jonny May challenge deemed rash by referee Chris Ham resulted in a penalty for Ashton & Backwell that reduced the deficit.

With five minutes remaining it was 3-2 when a visiting free kick was converted with a fine header.

Rather than the visitors pushing for the equaliser that would have taken the game into extra time in the closing stages, Ilminster once again took control looking for the forth goal and Rutter went close as he turned a Karl Davies cross just wide.

Ilminster held on for the victory after a good performance overall with a lot of energy from the young side.

Jonny May was outstanding and led by example but it was Berrington, who stretched the home side with his pace and scored his first senior goal, that took the man of the match honours.

It was a great day for the club with all four teams in action for the first time this season and all four winning - after the difficult start things have improved without question.   

Ilminster: Chris May, Luke Paul, Jonny May, Jake Woodard, Karl Davies, Ben Pitman, Brad Pitman (Jack Reid), Jack Male, Adam Male, Charlie Rutter, Charlie Berrington.

On Saturday, the Blues return to league action against table toppers Nailsea & Tickenham, who should give the young side a real test at the Archie Gooch Pavilion (3pm).

FA Cup first qualifying round
Warsash Wasps 4, Ilminster Town Ladies 0

ILMINSTER Ladies played their first game of the season away to Warsash Wasps in the FA Cup on Sunday.

On a wet September morning, Town handed debuts to Charlotte Johnson in goal, Amy Jones in defence and Charlie Pettinger and Lucy Pitman in midfield.

Town didn’t start well, falling behind in the first minute of the match, but it was they who came closest to scoring the next goal when young midfielder Maisie Poole saw a low shot well saved.

The second half started much like the first as a shot proved tricky for Town’s goalkeeper Johnson to deal with and found its way in just under the crossbar.

Warsash’s third came in the 69th minute, and two minutes later Town found themselves 4-0 down. 

Johnson made some fine saves on her debut for the club, the most notable being in the 80th minute when she kept out a shot from point-blank range.

Town’s best chance came in the 75th minute when Poole tackled the goalkeeper and the ball fell to captain Sarah Miller, but no shooting chance developed.

The game did end on a low point when, in the 89th minute, the match was stopped when a serious leg injury was sustained by a Warsash defender, who everybody at Ilminster wishes a speedy recovery. 

Town’s attention now turns to the league, and they host Forest Green Rovers on Sunday (2pm).