Cheddar dropped another two points in a game that they felt confident of winning and in fact should have won and are in danger of getting dragged into a potential relegation battle this season, when they felt that a top five place was the realistic target at the start of the season.

Cheddar welcomed back three of their university-based players with Jaz Butler on the bench but Dave Phillips and Andy Edmonds at full backs. Also on the bench were Jim Hewlett returning from injury and Adam Kotas, back at Cheddar after a few years away.

Tim Richens expressed some concerns when he saw who was refereeing the match as the same ref had awarded two penalties against them in the home game with Castle Cary, including a “phantom one” that was not appealed for by Cary. His concerns were justified as the referee had, in the view of both teams, a very poor game with the visitors (as laughed about by the Ilminster Manager) getting the benefit of just about every decision on the day.

Cheddar started brightly and were knocking the ball about well despite the sticky surface, especially down the right where Mike Kay and Dave Phillips combined to create non-stop danger for the Ilminster defence. The visitors only tactic was to hit long balls from the back, particularly the keeper, trying to bypass the midfield but Paul Whittaker was a rock at the back, earning a man of the match performance, missing nothing as well as starting many attacks.

It was no real surprise when Cheddar opened the scoring, Mike Edmonds had been frightening the defenders with his running and created some pressure which meant the ball fell to Ollie Sealey on the edge of the bo.x Sealey, showing composure beyond his 16 years, left his marker on the floor and slotted home from 12 yards out.

Cheddar carried on taking the attack to Ilminster with Tom Manning and Rob Branch prompting superbly from the middle of the park, the only blemish being a booking from an already frustrated (with the ref) Branch.
Cheddar almost scored their goal of the season when a move that saw about six one- touch passes in and around the Ilminster box end with Mike Kay slip the ball just the wrong side of the post.

Half time saw Cheddar reminded that a one goal lead was not enough and to carry on taking the game to the visitors.
Cheddar had several good chances to wrap the game up but fail to put any of them away, the strangest being when Ollie Sealey seemed to clear a shot by Mike Kay off the Ilminster line.
Cheddar also had a clear penalty denied by the referee who was still in in the Cheddar half of the pitch.

Tim Richens was fearing that things were not going to end up Cheddar’s way and this was confirmed with 20 minutes left when Ilminster equalised, again in controversial fashion.
A corner was headed goalwards by the Ilminster striker but cleared off the line by Rob Branch, to Cheddar’s astonishment the ref decreed that the ball had crossed the line. The linesman was signalling that the ball had not crossed the line, despite having a clear view, but the referee overruled him (for the umpteenth time in the game – consistently overruling both officials to everyone’s frustration), not even choosing to consult him.
Cheddar tried hard to get the wining goal and Ilminster were content to take the point, Butler, Hewlett and Kotas were brought on to add fresh legs but all to no avail.

Cheddar had once again drawn a game that they should have won, once again the luck deserted them and Tim Richens, who always works on the “what comes round, goes around” theory, feels that 2008 will be a hugely lucky year.

The players have been excellent so far this season, unlike the results, but Cheddar need to turn some of the draws into wins to achieve the target for the season, which is now a top half finish.