CHARD Town and Ilminster Town now occupy the bottom two places in the Somerset County League’s Premier Division, despite the latter rescuing a point with the last kick of their match on Saturday afternoon.

Stockwood Green’s 4-3 win at Westfield saw them leapfrog the Blues, who drew 3-3 at home to Nailsea United.

Ilminster manager Chris Hill will feel like it was two points dropped, due to profligacy in front of goal and some terrible defending.

Nailsea came into the game off the back of a 6-3 win over Chard the previous weekend, and they went ahead when Sam Sheldrake was penalised, allowing Freddie King to score from the spot.

The visitors came close to extending their lead, and it took a brave block from Doug Whitfield and fine save from Jack Rutter to deny them.

Those defensive efforts were rewarded when Taylor Jefferson won the ball on halfway and released Ben Evett, whose cross was cleared only as far as Jefferson, who found the bottom corner from 25 yards.

The hosts were on top now, and the game tipped further in their favour when Nailsea’s James Springett talked himself into a second yellow card.

Mike Whitefield collected a rebound to put the Blues ahead after the break, but King scored his second with a superb free-kick to make it 2-2.

Ilminster piled forward in search of a winner, but fell behind against the run of play, as King waltzed past Karl Davis and Noah Kruszynski on his way to a brilliant solo goal and his hat-trick.

To their credit the home side did not give up, and Evett grabbed a last-gasp equaliser direct from a corner, assisted by the strong wind.

Ilminster Town: Jack Rutter, Mike Whitefield, Doug Whitfield, Sam Sheldrake, Noah Kruszynski, Karl Davis, Will Spurway, Ben Pitman, Ben Evett, Lee Sweet, Taylor Jefferson. Subs (used): Brad Pitman, Louis Rutter, Olly Down.

This Saturday (2.30pm) sees the Blues host Clutton.

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CHARD stay rooted to the bottom of the table, with seven defeats from seven and a goal difference of -23, after a 6-1 defeat at home to second-placed Chilcompton Sports.

The Robins’ injury list shows no sign of shortening, with seven players missing on Saturday, but having gone behind early to Arran Stewart’s goal they fought back to equalise, as Owen Dodd smashed in from a James Boyland cross.

The visitors led 2-1 at half-time, though, and it was 3-1 on the hour.

Chilcompton pulled away with three goals in the last 15 minutes - Stewart scoring two of them to seal his hat-trick.

Chard Town: Cunnold, Mason, Shawn Wells-Burr, Scott Wells-Burr, Board, Jakeman, Finn, Dodd, Every, Boyland, Boddington, Mooney, Anjos.

Chard visit Watchet Town this Saturday (2.30pm).

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COMBE St Nicholas picked up their first league win of the season in superb style on Saturday, hammering Yatton & Cleeve United Reserves 7-1 at Slade’s Cross.

New signing Brad Miles opened the scoring, the visitors equalised, but Jack Male and Jack Steer made it 3-1 at half-time.

The hosts turned the screw after the break, passing sharply; Kieran Manley headed in the fourth, Adam Male fired in a long-range free-kick, and further goals from Steer and Geth Jenkins wrapped it up.