The start of a crucial week in the battle against relegation began with Wrington Redhill AFC hosting Ilminster Town, a team just above them but had to settle for a battle in a tight 2-2 draw.

Wrington were sat 15th out of 16 before the game but only four points and two places away from safety and their opponents for the day Illminster, who were also searching for vital points in a close relegation battle.

An effective six pointer was up for grabs and win for the Redskins would be a huge boost to their hopes of staying up for the season, but it was the visitors that started strongly.

A series of corners put pressure on the home team’s defence, but the back line of Dan Ferguson, Ethan Johnson and Ayrton Phillips stood firm despite everything being thrown at them.

Wrington Redhill slowly took control of the game with Joe Creese, Travis Yule-Turner and Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyi causing the Ilminster defence problems with great support from the energetic Josh Pitt in midfield.

On one attack Creese just missed fully controlling a through ball with just the keeper to beat and the chance to take the lead passed by.

From a free kick Jordon Bonner found Johnson in the box and his lay off to Max Smith was slotted past Jack Rutter for the lead and his first goal for the Club.

This was quickly followed when great quick feet from Yule-Turner set up Creese and this time he fired into the net increasing the lead to 2-0.

More chances were created in a dominant spell, the best a well saved Ferguson-Obamwonyi free kick and then Yule-Turner ghosted past 3 defenders, but his shot was narrowly wide of the upright. 

Weston Mercury: The bottom half of the Somerset County League Premier Division table after the game (30 game season)The bottom half of the Somerset County League Premier Division table after the game (30 game season) (Image: fulltime.thefa.com)

The two-goal lead was taken to the interval when perhaps further goals should have been added.

The second half started the same as the first with Ilminster the quicker of the two teams out of the blocks, catching Wrington cold and soon levelled with two goals in the space of five minutes, a remarkably quick turnround in the game.

As the half proceeded George Fake and Ryan Pugh entered the fray and helped to get some control back for Redhill but the team were unable to produce any real clear chances.

Both teams were locked in a stale mate, neither willing to give up their hard earned point, and with the Wrington defence playing standing strong and their midfield staying busy they snuffed out any Ilminster attack of note.

It wasn’t until the last minute of the game that Wrington had another clear sight of goal, Creese was again narrowly thwarted by the visiting keeper when trying to stab home a winning goal, leaving both teams having to settle for a 2-2 scoreline and a single point.

Only time will tell if this is a good point or two points dropped as the battle moves on to another crucial home game against Uphill Castle, Tuesday evening with a 6.30pm kick off.