Timsbury Athletic continued their fine start to the new campaign with a 6-2 home win against Nailsea and Tickenham Reserves in the Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 1 but it was a victory that came at a huge cost. Striker Sam Gregory, who has made a big impact since joining the club, suffered a serious injury immediately after notching the club’s sixth goal and is likely to spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Timsbury could have scored in the first minute but Tim Midgley missed the target after a telling cross from Rhys Cook. In fact it was the visitors who settled quickest and after Ollie Hogg had seen a shot saved by Ashton Tucker, Charlie Ashton headed them in front rising highest from a corner. Gregory did see one header blocked on the line and Ellis Hancock saw another header easily held by keeper Finn Taylor but it was Nailsea who were looking the liveliest of the two outfits without ever creating many clearcut chances. With half-time approaching the home side then turned the game upside down. First Toby Neilson ghosted in at the far post to head home Tim Midgley’s cross and right on the interval Cook made it 2-1 with a fine individual goal.
Timsbury dominated the second half with Cook and Gregory causing constant problems up front. After 52 minutes Gregory’s header made it 3-1 and on the quarter-of-an hour Callum Taylor’s accurate free-kick was headed down by Gregory for Cook to tap home. Within minutes Cook had grabbed a well deserved hat-trick to make it 5-1 and Neilson came close to his second goal hitting the post after finding space. With 20 minutes left Gregory raced clear to make it 6-1 but collapsed on the ground after making contact and the game was held up for 15 minutes before he could be taken from the pitch. The home side ended the game with 10 men and the visitors gained a consolation goal when Nick Walker converted a late penalty.
Malcolm Tucker