Uhlsport Somerset Premier Division: Ilminster Town 3-1 Chard Town

The Ilminster Town verses Chard Town local Boxing Day derby match was a match of two halves played in front of a large festive crowd, Ilminster came back from 1-0 down to win the match with second half goals from Brad Pitman and two from star man Lewis Trusson.

With James Boyland on the beach and Jordon Clapp still not fit, Chard were without their top scorers. Joe Chamberlain was available though.

Chard started the brighter and took a deserved lead after when a long ball across the pitch split the home defence and Joe Chamberlain beat Jack Rutter to the ball with his shot from just inside the corner of the eighteen yard box finding the corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Both sides cancelled each other for the rest of the half with no clear cut chances as the Robins went in ahead at the break.

Ilminster who had managed to get a foot hold in the match towards the mid point of the first half, picked the pace up in the second half , although Chard very nearly doubled their advantage when Connor Fielder saw his effort hit the top of the bar.

The Blues then began creating chances, Louis Rutter made a strong run towards goal and from the same position where Chamberlain had scored saw his shot creep just the wrong side of the box after Chard keeper Jason Contreras had narrowed the angle.

This close effort seemed to give the side the confidence to push forward and with 54 minutes on the clock Lewis Trusson found some space and hit a thunderbolt that made it 1-1.

It was all Ilminster now and the hard working Brad Pitman made it 2-1 with a shot from the edge of the box in the 62nd minute.

Trusson then scored again with another good strike from distance in the 70th minute.

The Blues comfortable saw out the closing stages to move to just a point behind their neighbours in the League table.

Next up for Ilminster is a home match at the Archie Gooch Pavilion with a 2.00pm kick off on Saturday against second in the table Chilcompton Sports.

Next Saturday Chard travel away to Keynsham Town Reserves, another tough away game.