Ilminster Town's Young Guns Turn On The Style

Ilminster Town fielded possibly one of its youngest-ever 1st XI sides on Saturday (September 2, 2017) when Ashton & Backwell United Reserves were the visitors to the Archie Gooch Pavilion in the Somerset Senior Cup.

With the team losing a number of players because of the start of the new Perry Street League, it meant they called upon 17-year-old Charlie Berrington to play-up front with Charlie Rutter and the fit again Adam Male.

While highly promising 16-year-old Jack Reid was on the bench and the youthful midfield consisted of “veteran” Ben Pitman, 21, and teenagers Jack Male, 19, and Brad Pitman, 18.

Back in goal and the most experienced player at 28 was the talented Chris May.

So although Ilminster started on paper as favourites with their Premier Division status as opposed to the visitors from Division One West, it certainly was not going to be an easy afternoon.

But Ilminster began on the front foot and took the lead in the seventh minute when Charlie Berrington used his pace before hitting the target with a powerful shoot that the visitor’s keeper saved, but Adam Male was on hand to stroke the rebound into the net.

Some great football led to the second with Luke Paul, Charlie Rutter and Jack Male all involved before Brad Pitman, who has a good habit of arriving from deep to the edge of the 18 yard box, hit an unstoppable thunderbolt that gave the keeper no chance.

Ilminster were playing some good football and Ben Pitman just failed to keep his shot down firing over when well placed which would have put them 3-0 up.

Ashton had some good players with their No.10 causing problems with his trickery and when he won and then took a free kick, Chris May did well to turn the effort onto the post.

Berrington then showed his pace again before finding Charlie Rutter who brought a fine save from the keeper with his feet.

Ilminster started the second-half exactly the same as the first period and when Charlie Berrington timed his run to find himself one on one with the keeper he showed composure beyond his years to score with a cool finish.

At 3-0 the game should have been over but lack of discipline never helped and a Jonny May challenge deemed rash by the referee Chris Ham resulted in a penalty for Ashton & Backwell that reduced the deficit.

With five minutes remaining it was 3-2 when again poor discipline led to a free kick and a fine header.

Rather than the visitors push for the equaliser that would have taken the game into extra time in the closing stages Ilminster once again took control looking for the fourth goal and Charlie Rutter went close when just turning a Karl Davies cross wide.

It was a good Ilminster performance overall with a lot of energy from the young side, Jonny May was outstanding and led from example, but it was Charlie Berrington who stretched the home side with his pace and his first senior goal that took the man of the match honours.

It was a great day for the club with all four teams in action for the first time this season and all four winning.

Ilminster Town: Chris May, Luke Paul, Jonny May, Jake Woodard, Karl Davies, Ben Pitman, Brad Pitman, Jack Male, Adam Male, Charlie Rutter, Charlie Berrington. Subs used: Jack Reid on for Brad Pitman.

The Blues return to Somerset County League Premier Division action on Saturday (September 9, 2017) when Nailsea & Tickenham should give the young Ilminster side a real test at the Archie Gooch Pavilion in a 3pm kick-off.