Ilminster Town knocked out Somerset Senior Cup by Cheddar Reserves

CHEDDAR Reserves were the visitors in the second round of the Somerset Senior Cup.

The Cheesemen are having a great season - they are top and unbeaten in the Somerset County League Division 3 as well as progressing in the Senior Cup by knocking out Division 1 high-flyers Keynsham Town.

Both sides started well with Cheddar looking for the long ball, while Ilminster played more football.

After the first 15 minutes it was the Blues who were well on top and there were good chances for Kieran Manley and Brad Miles but both failed to hit the target.

With half an hour gone, Ilminster won a free kick and George Miles scored with a low effort that found the bottom corner.

Cheddar then cane back into the match and had a couple of shots from distance without troubling Chris May in goal.

Then came the move of the first half as Ilminster pushed forward at pace.

Charlie Rutter played in Andy Whitefield, who burst past a couple of defenders and crossed from the left - Kieran Manley took up a great position but his first time effort crept agonisingly wide.

For some reason, with half-time approaching, Ilminster let Cheddar back into the game.

First from a corner the centre forward was left unmarked but failed to hit the target and then, with the last action of the half from a simple throw in, Whitefield rushed in and was bypassed and a well delivered cross was headed home.

The second half began with Ilminster back in control as Whitefield went close with shot.

Manley then made a strong run down the left before intelligently cutting the ball back for Brad Miles, who rifled it home from the edge of the box to give his side a 2-1 lead.

With Ilminster again well in control and 70 minutes on the clock Cheddar equalised out of nowhere, when a speculative effort from distance found the net.

Worse was to come as Cheddar played some good football before taking the lead with a well taken goal.

Ilminster rallied and pushed forward without really threatening but it was Cheddar who then made the game safe after another breakaway goal to make it 4-2.

Right at the end Ilminster won a corner and when Brad Miles swung it in Doug Whitfield had a free header in the middle of the goal, but the ball hit his shoulder - which just about summed up the sides luck at the moment.

Ilminster: Chris May, Luke Paul, George Miles, Adam Male, Doug Whitfield, Brad Miles, Alex Paul, Charlie Rutter , Andy Whitefield, Brad Pitman, Kieran Manley; Sub Used: Carl Lazenby

Next week it’s cup action again this time in the Somerset County Division One/Premier League Cup where Bath-based Odd Down are the visitors to the Archie Gooch Pavilion.

The match kicks off at 3pm and will go straight to penalties in the event of a draw.

ILMINSTER Town Ladies lost 2-1 at Bishops Lydeard in the South West Women's League Premier Division.

Town will look to bounce back at home to Callington Town this weekend.