FOOTBALL: Ilminster Town and Ilminster Town Ladies pick up victories

BACK-TO-BACK matches are never easy and after a hard-fought draw last week at Wells, Ilminster Town used home advantage to claim their first win since October thanks to Alex Paul’s late winner, writes Andy Fish.

The Blues attacked right from the off, and a couple of half-chances came and went with last-ditch defending and blocked shots.

It looked like only a matter of time before the hosts scored, but suddenly Wells were on top and Ilminster dropped too deep.

They survived a couple of scares but were not so fortunate on 35 minutes, as Steve Emery was allowed too much room on the left and Brad Pitman made a mess of clearing the cross as the ball bounced over Chris May.

Wells certainly deserved their lead at the break, but the Blues showed more determination from the restart and they were level within five minutes.

Jack Male delivered a great ball into Chris Nezianya, and the experienced frontman controlled it instantly before finishing smartly.

The Blues kept pushing forward and won a free-kick, which Brad Miles crossed to the far post where Doug Whitfield headed it across goal for Taylor Jefferson to nod in his 12th goal of the season.

The Blues looked comfortable, but all that changed when a long ball was chased down and Pitman was caught late, with the youngster kicking out at the Wells player and the referee giving a penalty for the retaliation.

Emery made no mistake from the spot and for the second week running it looked like Wells had done enough to win a point, but they were then reduced to 10 men after a bad challenge on Pitman.

Ilminster pushed hard for the winner, with Miles’ free-kick being well saved.

Richard Crabb was brought on at left-back, and he broke down the wing before cutting the ball back to Paul, who found the corner for his first goal since returning to the club from Barrington.

There was time for more chances, with Paul seeing a diving header blocked and Wells’ Cameron Glendinning volleying over from five yards, but the Blues held on.

This was a rather ugly win for Ilminster, but when a team is just above the relegation zone, any three points are vital.

Ilminster Town: Chris May, Jack Male, Luke Paul, Karl Davis, Doug Whitfield, Brad Miles, Ben Pitman, Brad Pitman, Chris Nezianya, Alex Paul, Taylor Jefferson. Subs (all used): Richard Crabb, Kieran Manley, Tom Sullivan.

The result sees Ilminster remain in 14th place, but they are now five points clear of second-bottom Staplegrove with games in hand on all the teams below them.

This coming Saturday, the Blues have another home match against 10th-placed Bridgwater Town Reserves, with a 3pm kick off at the Archie Gooch Pavilion.

Then, on Easter Monday, the team travel to Shirehampton (ko 3pm), to take on the team currently sitting in sixth spot.

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South West Women’s League
Premier Division
Ilminster Town Ladies 4, Keynsham Town Development 2

SUNDAY saw Ilminster Town Ladies host Keynsham Town Development, who won the reverse fixture 4-2 just two weeks before.

This time the scoreline was reversed in the Blues’ favour, largely due to an outstanding first team debut for Erin Bloomfield.

The hosts started well but found themselves behind in the 15th minute, as goalkeeper Charlotte Johnson made a good save but could not keep out the rebound.

It didn’t take long for the Blues to get back on level terms, however, as Bloomfield stepped up.

In the 21st minute Charlie Pettinger played the ball over the top of the defence, into the path of Bloomfield, who struck the ball on the half-volley into the top corner from outside the box.

But Ilminster then found themselves 2-1 down at half time, after Keynsham scored from a corner.

WING WIZARD: Maisie Parker on the ball for Ilminster Town Ladies. Pic: Ash Magill

The Blues came out firing in the second half, and equalised in the 57th minute, as a fine ball in from Maisie Parker found Bloomfield, who hit a side-foot volley in off the post.

Both sides pushed for a winner, but it was the hosts who went ahead on 83 minutes, as a cross fell kindly for Pettinger, and the young midfielder finished tidily.

They weren’t finished there, though, as Bloomfield completed her hat-trick in the 87th minute.

She dispossessed a defender 20 yards from goal, and calmly placed the ball into the net to seal the win.

Ilminster Town Ladies: Charlotte Johnson, Sammie Knight, Daisy Charles, Dana Andrews, Charlie Pettinger, Sarah Miller (c), Meg Purchase, Amy Burge, Colette Martin, Maisie Parker, Erin Bloomfield. Subs: Amy Goss, Shannon Crouch.

Ilminster travel to Charlestown for their next game, on April 8 (ko 2pm).