Somerset County Premier
Wells City Res 2, Ilminster Town 2

AFTER a three-week break due to the snow and rain, Ilminster Town were glad that their relegation six-pointer against bottom-of-the-table Wells City Reserves was given the go-ahead, writes Andy Fish.

With both sides a little rusty, it was a cagey start, but after 20 minutes right-back Jack Male found himself furthest forward and finished off a fine move to put the visitors ahead.

Alex Paul went close with a lob, and then Chris Nezianya capitalised on a defensive error to slip in Taylor Jefferson, who doubled the lead just before the break.

They started the second half as they ended the first, Jefferson seeing a shot come back off the post, but with 15 minutes left, Wells got a goal back.

The Blues kept attacking and substitute Charlie Rutter had a good chance saved, while Alex Paul and Jefferson had goals disallowed for offside.

As so often is the case when you don’t take your chances when on top, you get bitten, and the hosts equalised on 85 minutes.

There was still one more chance for Ilminster, but experienced frontman Alex Paul saw his lob go agonising wide.

Undoubtedly this was two points dropped, but one bonus was the return of centre-back Doug Whitfield.

He played well alongside Luke Paul, who has stepped up from the Reserves since club captain Jonny May injured his knee.

Ilminster Town: Casper Paine, Jack Male, Luke Paul, Karl Davis, Doug Whitfield, Brad Miles, Ben Pitman, Brad Pitman, Chris Nezianya, Alex Paul, Taylor Jefferson. Subs (used) - Charlie Rutter, George Miles.

With Ilminster Town Reserves’ home Devon & Exeter League Division 5 match called off last Saturday, due to the pitch still being waterlogged, the latest heavy snowfall already puts this coming weekend’s fixtures in doubt, with the thaw to come.

If the pitch is playable, the Blues once again face Wells City Reserves, this time at home, with a 3pm start at the Archie Gooch Pavilion on Saturday.

Last Saturday’s point sees Ilminster out of the bottom three relegation places, but it’s an incredibly close battle to avoid the drop.

With games in hand on relegation rivals Stockwood Green, Clutton and Staplegrove, the Blues will be hope that the awful weather finally relents and the football season can kick-start.

They are desperate to record that elusive win, last achieved with a 4-1 triumph against Clutton back in October.

***

Somerset County League
Division 1 West
Combe St Nicholas 3, Somerton 4

COMBE St Nicholas hosted table-topping Somerton on a very cold Saturday afternoon at Slades Cross.

The hosts started the game kicking down the slope and created some early chances, and finally Warren Gabbidon took one to give his side the lead.

This woke Somerton up, and after some good chances they equalised.

Both sides continued to create chances, but none better than when the visitors won a penalty.

The Combe faithful feared the worst, but Somerton failed to convert thanks to a double save from impressive goalkeeper Nathan Fisher.

The away side’s frustration was compounded when Gabbidon got his and Combe’s second goal on the stroke of half time.

The second half saw the hosts defending the slope and an attacking away team, and for all their efforts and fine defending from Darren Brown they conceded three without reply to fall 4-2 behind.

Gabbidon pulled one back to complete his second hat-trick in as many weeks, but the visitors took the points.

Combe managers Holt and Govier were impressed with the progress being made, but were still disappointed to come away with nothing.