Worle were held to a draw by Nailsea & Tickenham Reserves in their first match of the new season.

Worle 1

Nailsea & Tickenham Res 1

WORLE were disappointed to only come away from this home fixture against newly-formed Nailsea & Tickenham Reserves (formerly Nailsea Town) with a solitary point.

Worle have been unbeaten through pre-season playing flowing football, but this was missing against a more robust side.

Worle created numerous chances in the first-half and coped well with the more direct play from the away side, but despite these chances both teams failed to score and went in at half-time 0-0.

Worle dominated the second half and chances went begging for Ryan Downs, Ollie Clements and Ryan Hodrien, before Hodrien drilled the ball across the 18-yard box and was deflected into his own net from the Nailsea defender.

New signings Elliot Nelson and Nick Jones were both superb, but unfortunately Worle could not hold on when another route one ball found the Nailsea forward who challenged Matter in the home goal and his header crossed the line to put the scores level.

Worle brought on another new signing in Tom Coulson, but could not capitalise on all their good approach play and had to settle for a point.

On Saturday, Worle are at home again (3pm) against Clevedon United Reserves.

Banwell 3

Clevedon United Res 2

A NEW-LOOK Banwell side started the new league campaign with an entertaining 3-2 win against an energetic Clevedon United side.

Banwell started well with Millar going close with his head, before strike partner White was adjudged offside after ghosting past the defence and netting.

Clevedon’s only clear chance came late into the half when a cross to the back post was met with a crisp volley that was blocked well by centre half Perrot.

The break saw manager Jim Darch introduce substitute Tommy Hall into the midfield and he was rewarded soon after the break when Millar put the home side 1-0 up.

However, the lead did not last long, a Clevedon counter attack saw an equaliser and soon after, the visitors took the lead when a free kick beat the despairing dive of goalkeeper Hill.

Banwell’s response to the building pressure was a positive one. New signing Damien Hill played a neat one-two with White inside the penalty area before calmly placing the ball past the keeper to draw the scores level.

Parkinson went close for Banwell and a goal-line clearance denied White from Johnson’s header. With the game entering the final minutes, Banwell were rewarded when the ball broke on the edge of the box to Parkinson who whipped a curling shot into the top corner to secure the three points.

Banwell would like to thank Ryan Bird at Bets4free.co.uk for sponsoring the first team’s home kit for the new season.

Congresbury 6

Ilminster Town 2

CONGRESBURY recorded a comfortable win over a battling Ilminster side.

The home side opened the scoring when Kyle Havard’s superb reverse pass split the Ilminster defence wide open and Ross Stockhall smashed the ball past the keeper. The lead didn’t last long as hesitancy in the Congresbury defence allowed a striker an easy chance to make the score 1-1.

Minutes later, Congresbury regained the lead when Stockhall fired a low 30-yard effort past the keeper. Just before half-time, the score became 3-1 when Havard fired home a long-range effort which gave the keeper no chance.

Ilminster started the second half on the front foot and Congresbury’s defenders Ash Flavell, Josh Evans, Brian Wrigley, Adam Filer and Joe Whittaker had to play well to keep them out, while keeper Rhys Sullivan made a couple of excellent saves to preserve the lead.

After missing a penalty, the visitors made it 3-2 when a defensive howler left a striker with an open goal. Congresbury stepped up their game with the impressive midfield duo of Dan Hartley and Lewis Hunt leading the way.

The score became 4-2 following Hartley’s mazy run and powerful strike, the ball was only pushed out by the keeper to Stockhall and he made no mistake. Stockhall turned provider when he set up Sam Matthews to make it 5-2.

Fittingly it was Stockhall who had the final say when he burst clear before firing home from a narrow angle to make the final score 6-2.

Bradfords Building Supplies player of the match was Ross Stockhall.