Somerset Premier

Bishops Lydeard 6 Yatton Athletic 1

TO quote a well used cliche, this was a game of two halves.

Lydeard were rampant in the first 20 minutes of this half, playing expansive attacking football against a strong Yatton side, creating at least half a dozen chances, with Charlie Wilson and Liam Hooper in wide areas causing most problems.

Charlie Wilson in particular caught the eye with his clever wing play and probing crosses - Yatton's left back was in all sorts of trouble.

The pressure eventually told on 20 minutes when a low cross was finished clinically from ten yards by Joe Chamberlain, who had got off his sick bed to play.

Lydeard then took their foot off the pedal and allowed Yatton back into the game, and it was their turn to put pressure on the Bishops defence.

As a result, Yatton gained a corner after keeper Craig Lawton pulled off a stupendous save and from the resulting cross, Yatton's striker headed home.

For the rest of the half, Lydeard laboured in vain to gain the upper hand again and the score remained one each at half time.

The second half was a different affair, Yatton couldn't really cope with the numerous attacks from the home team.

Lydeard were the fitter team and technically better than the visitors, and the flood gates opened on 65 minutes when a long ball in behind the defence from George Painter found Wilson, and a low cross picked out that man Chamberlain, who finished in the same vein as his first.

On 70 minutes, Ryan Andrews through ball found Wilson who finished confidently to make it 3-1.

Charlie Wilson again found the net after clever play, he was the provider for Mark Clunie who finished from close range, then veteran Pat Sherwood strolled through the hapless Yatton defence to complete the rout and make the final score 6-1.

There were a few contenders for man of the match, but the general feeling that the basis of this excellent performance was George Painters ability to organise the defence and snuff out Yatton's forays into the home teams half.

Lydeard: Craig Lawton, Callum Flaherty, capt, George Painter, Mark Cornish, Jack Adams, Charlie Wilson, Ryan Andrews, Mark Clunie, Pat Sherwood, Liam Hooper, Joe Chamberlain, George Robertson, Charlie Purvis, Conor Noble.

Attendance: 42