Somerset County League
Division 1W
Ilminster Town 11, Congresbury 0

BOTTOM of the table Congresbury were the visitors in Ilminster Town’s last home match of the season, and in glorious spring sunshine top scorer Taylor Jefferson led the way with five goals including a first-half hat-trick, writes Andrew Fish.

It was one-way traffic right from the start, with Jefferson’s pace causing all sorts of problems for the basement team, and within the first five minutes he robbed a defender on the edge of the area and found the bottom corner with a good finish.

Young Sam Rowswell was enjoying the space he was afforded and went on a run which saw him brought down for a penalty, which Jefferson duly dispatched for 2-0.

The points were in the bag with just 20 minutes on the clock, as captain Jonny May rose at the back post to head home the third goal from a Paul Nichols corner.

Congresbury never gave up, but they simply could not live with the Blues’ movement.

Nichols brought a fine save from the keeper before Taylor completed his hat-trick from outside the box, and a rocket from Matt Brown made it 5-0 at the break.

Chris Nezianya replaced Jon Manley at half time, and Ilminster started the second half as they ended the first.

A fine team goal followed, with some great passing before Joe Simmonds volleyed home from a Jack Male cross.

Jefferson then scored two more, and Kevin Holmes’ record of six in a match against Long Ashton in the 1982/83 season was there to be equalled with 20 minutes left – but it proved out of his reach.

Substitute Charlie Rutter made it 9-0, stretching that extra yard to fire home, and the same player showed strength to head in from Sam Rowswell’s long throw and bring up double figures.

The Blues’ final substitution saw Mike McCormack replace Matt Brown, and he made it 11-0 when his goalbound shot took a deflection and went in.

The victory took Ilminster another step closer to promotion, and also gave them a goal difference of plus 30.

With Street Reserves the only side that can catch them – eight points behind and a goal difference of plus 11 – and with only three matches left a point for the Blues in their final match against Winscombe will see them finish runners-up to champions Portishead and bring promotion.

It could be all over tomorrow (Wednesday) as Street entertain Somerton at home – Street will have finished their fixtures by the time Ilminster play again on May 6 at Winscombe, and if Street fail to win all their matches the Blues can celebrate a return to the Premier Division.

Ilminster Town: Matt Bisgrove , Darren Brown, Jonny May, Jon Manley (Chris Nezianya), Aaron Sweet, Sam Rowswell, Paul Nichols, Matt Brown (Mike McCormack), Jack Male, Joe Simmonds (Charlie Rutter), Taylor Jefferson.