Somerset County Premier
Ilminster Town 2, Stockwood Wanderers 2

THE first ever meeting of these two sides ended in stalemate, with Ilminster delighted to move back into the top six having coming back from 2-0 down, writes Andy Fish.

It was fit-again Taylor Jefferson who kick-started Ilminster after a poor first half when, just before the interval, he raced away from the half-way line and delivered a composed finish.

The comeback was complete when Tom Sullivan grabbed the equaliser with a fine shot from 20 yards on 55 minutes.

There were three changes to the side, and the game started poorly for the Blues when left-back Karl Davies mishit his back pass and, with Owen Male sold short, the young keeper brought down Stockwood centre forward Harrison Donachie, who made no mistake from the spot.

Within 20 minutes, it was 2-0 as Tom Francis was sharpest to a loose ball.

The game became stretched in the closing stages with both sides striving for the winner and the young Ilminster side could not quite break down a resolute Stockwood defence.

The club are delighted that skipper Jonny May, along with his brother, Chris, have both been selected for the Somerset County Representative side.

Ilminster: Owen Male, Gethan Jenkins, Karl Davies, Jake Woodard, Jon May (c), Ben Pitman, Jack Male, Brad Pitman, Taylor Jefferson, Charlie Rutter, Tom Sullivan.

Ilminster face a tough trip to Watchet on Saturday (3pm).

South West Premier
Ilminster Town Ladies 2, Bishops Lydeard 0

ILMINSTER hosted a strong Bishops Lydeard team and picked up a useful victory.

Hannah Billing made her full debut for the first team and Amy Burge was handed her first start of senior football.

After an even start, Town broke the deadlock after Maisie Poole found Shannon Crouch. She played an inch-perfect ball to Colette Martin who finished calmly into the bottom left corner.

Maisie Poole had the ball in the net for Ilminster only to be denied by the linesman’s flag, but Ilminster soaked up Lydeard pressure very well with Charlotte Johnson pulling off some great saves.

Lydeard missed their best chance on the half-hour when a deflected shot fell to their attacker, who missed the target from 12 yards. 

Town started the brighter after the break, playing some good football.

But Lydeard found their feet quickly to apply pressure to the stubborn Ilminster backline. 

A turning point in the match came when young Ilminster keeper Charlotte Johnson, wrong-footed by a deflected shot, got her right hand up high and well to push the ball destined for the goal over the bar and away to safety.

Town doubled their lead on the hour after good work from Colette Martin led to Amy Goss being first to react and calmly tuck away into the back of the net. 

Player of the match was Charlotte Johnson. 

Ilminster travel to Middlezoy on Sunday.