Chard Town 1-3 Ilminster Town

ILMINSTER Town completed the great escape from relegation on Bank Holiday Monday after being written off at Christmas with 6 points from 15 matches, writes Andrew Fish.

Manager Matt Rowswell was promoted from the Reserve team and with his back room team of Kenny Timson, Charlie Rutter, Martin Case and Martin Callow galvanised the team and with 26 points from 14 matches the Blues are now safe.

After the great preformance away at 5th placed Middlezoy Rovers in midweek last time out,where they won 3-1 thanks to goals from skipper Kris Hastings, Taylor Jefferson and Louis Rutter, the team knew that a point would be good enough at local rivals Chard Town.

The nerves were calmed after Ben Evett scored a early goal after bringing the ball down on the edge of the box and firing into the back of the net with a fierce shot.

Chris Nezianya who led the line with Louis Rutter suspended done really well after good hold up play and won a free kick 25 yards from goal.

Jefferson stepped up and his low hard shot found the back of the net to put Ilminster 2-0 up after 33 minutes.

Chard had their best spell in the closing ten minutes playing some good football, apart from a shot put over the bar by the stretching Olly Chubb they never really threatened the Ilminster goal.

Ilminster attacked the slope in the second half and after winning another free kick Jefferson stepped up and found the back of the net after a wicked deflection gave Jason Contreras no chance to make it 3-0.

Chard pulled a goal back soon after a good ball in from the left from Connor Fielder found Chubb who scored with a good finish to make it 3-1.

Ilminster worked extremely hard to keep their lead with Nezianya and fellow Reserve team player Jake Woodard both replaced after running themselves into the ground.

Evett and Jefferson were both defending from the front really well as Chard finished the better side playing some great football at times but with the Ilminster defence standing firm with both full backs Liam Male and Aaron Sweet on top of their game.

Both Lee Sweet in midfield and Adam Markham at the back were outstanding for the Blues while Chard should be proud how their young side played, if they stick with these youngsters the future does look bright for them and after a 10th placed finish with two great wins against Worle and Chilcompton Chard can be very satisfied with there season.

Ilminster finish their season with a match away at 3rd placed Mendip Broadwalk next Saturday.