Uphill Castle were left undone by two goals at the end of the first half by Louis Coppard to help Stockwood Wanderers claim a 2-0 win in the Uhlsport Somerset County League Premier today (Saturday).

Moments after Reed’s corner came back off the crossbar, Coppard picked up a long ball over the top, he showed great composure before slotting ball low underneath Ryan Scott from the edge of the area.

Moments later Coppard got his and his side’s second when he slid home at the back post to put Wanderers in control during the break.

Both sides hit the woodwork in the second half when Jack Moore’s wonderful strike hit the post while Ethan Reed also saw his free-kick come back off the frame of goal before Harry Pegler’s fantastic long-range strike rebounded off the bar as Uphill ended 2023 with defeat. 

With only three games played this afternoon, due to the weather, the Castle looked to take advantage but fell behind just before the break. 

Reed’s direct corner came back off the crossbar and Ryan Chapple’s long pass over the top found Coppard on the edge of the area. The forward was closed down but he fired low beyond Scott and his effort nestled into the back of the net. 

With Uphill left in shock, Stockwood made it two a short time later when Jack Moore ball across goal was tapped in at the back post by Coppard to make it 2-0 at the interval. 

It was nearly three in the 47th minute when Moore and Coppard combined well down the right-hand side, with the former picking the ball it up and let fly from 20-yards-out with his left foot but his effort comes back off the post.

The Castle fought back and nearly got old back in the 55th minute when Reed’s inch perfect cross near the centre circle found Jack Askins inside the box but the captain’s attempted header over Matt Lewis lopped onto the top of the net.

A couple of minute later the hosts went even closer with a free-kick 25-yards-out. Reed took it and his superb strike beat Lewis but not the post as Uphill were left frustrated.

With a constant battle the main theme of the second half, it was Wanderers who went close to a third in the 84th minute. Moore’s cross from the right found substitute Arran Stewart around six yards out but he could only fire over.

Moore then fired over before in the 89th minute the visitors went even closer. Charlie Perkins turned on the burners and sent in a low cross towards the back post, and with an open goal Kevin Zyberi could only direct the ball wide after sliding in at the far post.

It took until the 90th minute when Uphill had their first clear opportunity. A lovely cross from Aidan McKenna found Jack Askins to head towards goal, but his downward header was superbly saved by Lewis. 

And with the ball recycled Pegler meet the ball from 25-yards-out with a lovely first-time effort that struck the crossbar as Uphill fell to a disappointing defeat.