First Team Lose Unbeaten League Status

It was 2nd against 3rd on Saturday in Division One West of the Somerset County League , as 2nd in the Table Ilminster Town were away at Street Reserves for the second time in the last couple of weeks,  the Blues eventually lost their unbeaten League record to go with their penalty defeat in the League Cup, when Street scored late on to clinch a vital 4-3 victory that keeps them right in the promotion hunt.

Street first team are lying 2nd in the Screwfix Premier League, and when their match away at Melksham which cancelled in the morning due to a power failure which effected both the floodlights and clubhouse at Melksham, Street Reserves strengthened with the inclusion of 3 first team players but it was Ilminster who made the better start, when Taylor Jefferson made a strong run in to the box, before being upended for a penalty, and it was  Jefferson himself who got up and confidently fired the Blues into the lead with his 13th goal of the season.

Street were soon level when their top scorer Harry Foster headed home direct from a corner for his 13th goal in 7 games and it was not long before they were 2-1 up with a   strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Ilminster dug in and equalised when Jack Male got in a great cross from the right, and Sam Rowswell saw his first shot blocked before scoring from the rebound with a clinical finish.

Manager Jason Manley then introduced Chris Nezianya and Joe Simmonds for Male and Dan Smith and the substitutes combine with Nezianya producing a great bit of skill by selling the left back  a dummy, before crossing for Simmonds at the near post to give his side the lead.

Street were not done, and with 80 minutes on the clock,equalised with a shot from just inside the box, this set up a frantic finish to the match as both sides pressed for a winner.

Ilminster only had themselves to blame in the end, as a sloppy free kick was given away and failure to organise in time lead to the free kick bouncing in off centre half Toby Davey in a congested goalmouth, to win the match for the Cobblers second string.

This was not the best display from Ilminster, who many have paid from last weeks cancelled match at Congresbury leaving them slightly off the pace.

Next Saturday Christmas Eve (December 24th) Ilminster entertain Combe St.Nicholas in a local Derby, at ’The Archie Gooch Pavilion’ with a 12.00 mid day kick off, Combe will  no doubt be full of confidence after their fine 3-1 win over Congresbury on Saturday.

Team

Casper Paine, Darren Brown, Josh Parsons,  Jon Manley, Jonny May (Capt), Sam Rowswell, Jack Male,  Paul Nichols ,  Dan Smith, Matt Brown, Taylor Jefferson.

Subs:

Chris Nezianya (Jack Male)
Joe Simmonds (Dan Smith) 
Jon Delahay Not used