Uhlsport Somerset Premier Division: Ilminster Town 5-1 Nailsea United

Louis Rutter who had an outstanding match, scored a first half hat trick and also had an assist as he crossed the ball for Brad Pitman to tap home at the far post to give his side an unassailable 4-0 lead, writes Andrew Fish.

With the match all but over at half time, the second half was more subdued  with a goal apiece, the 5-1 victory taking the Town into the top ten in the Somerset County Premier League for the first time this season. 

It all began so differently as Nailsea had began this match looking sharp and were causing the Ilminster defence some early problems in the opening ten minutes.

The match changed with the first goal scored against the run of play, defender Tom Case delivered a great ball into the path of Rutter who used this strength and pace to run through and finish well to make it 1-0 .

After this the Blues seemed to go up a gear, Rutter latched onto another pass from midfield where he again ran through and with the keeper to beat once again found the back of the net with confidence.

Rutter then turned provider, as he made a strong run down the right before crossing where Pitman scored at the second attempt at the far post to make it 3-0.

All three forwards were involved in the next goal,  Taylor Jefferson won the ball and found Jack Steer who ran forward before cutting inside where Rutter stepped in front and swept the ball home to make it 4-0.

There were some early changes in the second half with a couple of players carrying slight injuries and the intensity did drop a little, the team though did keep the ball well.

Half way through the half Jefferson had a shoot that was blocked and Steer made it 5-0 with a well hit half volley.

Nailsea pulled a goal back when substitute Harrison Ford scored after Ilminster had given the ball away in midfield, Jack Rutter then made a good save towards the end.

Ilminster striker Louis Rutter took the Star man vote for the second week running with his well taken first half hat trick, since returning from injury where he broke his jaw back in August, the powerful Rutter is now looking back to his best and proved a real handful for the visitors. The work rate from the whole team was very impressive throughout. 

Team : Jack Rutter, Tom Case, Callum Lacey, Harry Manley, Lee Sweet, Elliott Calvert, Harvey Saunders, Taylor Jefferson, Jack Steer , Brad Pitman, Louis Rutter Subs Used:

Drew Stride, ,Charlie Rutter, Kris Hastings, Thomas Lee

Next week Mendip Broadwalk who sit at the top of the Somerset County Premier League are the visitors to the Archie Gooch Pavilion in the League Cup Quarter Final, the match kicks off at 2.00pm, the teams meet at Ilminster back in September with the match finishing 0-0.