Ilminster Town 0 Ilfracombe Town 1

Ilminster Town did not deserve to lose their unbeaten start to the season. Despite falling behind, they created enough chances to earn at least a point from this competitive South West Peninsula League fixture.

It was Ilminster who started the brighter with Josh Phillips just hesitating to take his shot early enough allowing the defender to block the ball on the line.

The Blues were the better team and had other half chances to have taken the lead on the opening twenty minutes, the visitors somehow kept the ball out when numerous Ilminster players had attempts in a goal mouth scramble.

Towards the half hour mark Ilfracombe started to look dangerous, a free kick just cleared the bar and on loan Ilminster keeper Harley Wilkinson got down well to push an effort wide.
The territorial advantage was rewarded when a great ball in from the left was headed in by Ollie Stevens.

Braeden Symes talked his way into the sin bin as Ilminster were reduced to ten men for the last five minutes of the half, this did not stop Phillips going close as he timed his run well and saw his shot creep agonisingly wide of the target.

The second half saw Ilfracombe sitting deep and defended well, offering Ilminster little space in behind, half chances were created as Jack Steer and Jordy Lovibond both had efforts that lacked any power as the keeper saved easily.

Phillips flicked a ball on with Steer racing through, he hit the ball cleanly only for the keeper to get lucky as some how he flicked his foot up and diverted the powerful shot wide.

Ed Butcher came on from the bench and after a strong run he picked out Phillips who again went close.

With Ilminster pressing hard for an equaliser, manager Jason Behan took a gamble by replacing defensive midfielder Harvey Saunders with Lewis Trusson.

Trusson made a fine run down the right crossed the ball and with the cross slightly behind him Phillips could not quite sort his feet out and the shot was blocked on the line, Phillips was first to the rebound and when that hit a defender and somehow cleared the bar this about summed up the afternoon for Ilminster.
It was just one of those days in football that the ball won’t go in, sometimes the harder you try the worse it gets.
As League Secretary Phil Hiscox said after the match you would not have scored if you stayed out there all night!

The positive was lots of chances were created, the team still sit in the top three, with players returning from their holidays and recovering from slight injuries before a run of difficult fixtures against strong teams.

Next, Ilminster face two tough cup fixtures against Step 5 opposition from the league above. First, they travel to Western Premier League side Street FC in the FA Vase, with a 3.00 pm kick off at the Tannery Ground.
Then in the Somerset Premier Cup high flying top of the Division Bridgwater United visit the Archie Gooch Pavilion, on Tuesday 15th September under the lights with a 7.30pm ko.