Page 3 - Keynsham Town FC v Shepton Mallet 261122

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to Shepton Mallet
for this Toolstation Western League Premier Division clash. Our
committee would also like to welcome today’s match officials,
referee Paul Collier and his 2 assistants, Damon McEllin & Ellis
Richards.
Since my last notes, our young lads’ fortunes have taken a
distinctive upturn! Last week saw a break from League action
and 3 successive away games when we hosted Southern
League side Paulton Rovers in the Somerset Premier Cup
Second Round. In what was a fine performance against
opposition from a higher level, the visitors took the lead just
before halftime. However Riley Gifford-Hobbs then scored a
superb equaliser with 10 minutes remaining, so the game had
to be decided by penalty kicks. After 8 perfect kicks from the
first 8 penalties taken, Paulton’s keeper dived low to his right
to save Will Sage’s effort; Paulton’s next penalty was scored, so
they won the shootout 5-4.

The Ks took that impressive display into last Saturday’s home game against Cornish visitors
Millbrook, where we gave a debut to Harley Prior on dual registration with Larkhall Athletic.
Despite giving away a soft early goal, a flowing move from back to front saw our impressive
midfielder Henry Sady equalise on 10 minutes. There was not much to choose between the
two sides, with Keynsham missing several opportunities and our stopper Joel Manning in
commanding form. As the game entered stoppage time, we poured forward in search of our
first win for 11 weeks, and lo and behold, Crown Fields erupted in the 95th minute when
Sahr Nanoh burst into the box, pulled the ball back from the byline and Henry Sady popped
up to blast the ball gleefully home! This victory was just reward for the young team’s efforts
over the past few weeks.
We then followed that up with another victory on a chilly Tuesday evening away to Western
Division One side Tytherington Rocks in the Les Phillips Cup First Round. We were dominant
for the vast majority of the game, with Charlie McLachlan and Tom Ovigne making
impressive debuts after signing on dual registration from Paulton Rovers. Goals from Owen
Brain (2 free kicks), Henry Sady, Will Sage & Amadou Jawo sent us to a commanding 5-1
victory, and a second round tie in the New Year away to either Shirehampton or
Almondsbury.
Next Saturday we will, weather permitting, make our longest trek of the season to the
outposts of Cornwall to play Mousehole (some of you may recall that our destination is 15
miles FURTHER than Manchester)!! The club are running a coach to this game, departing
Crown Fields at 08:00, and supporters are welcome to jump aboard at the bargain price of
£10 per person.

Following that, we have 2 successive Saturday afternoon home games leading up to
Christmas, hosting Saltash United (10th December) and Helston Athletic (17th December);
both these games kick off at the usual time of 15:00.
Thank you as always for your loyal support. Up the Ks!!
Jules French (Club Secretary)

Keynsham Town FC Committee Member