Ilminster Town FC Reserves have officially been crowned champions of the Perry Street and District Division One after their closest rivals Forton Rangers lost this weekend.

Forton’s loss means they are now 10 points behind Ilminster with only three games to play, crowning Ilminster Reserves champions of the league before the official end of the season.

Ilminster had done all they could going into this weekend having won 16 of their 20 league games, whilst only drawing three and losing one, leaving them on 51 points of a possible 60, enough to earn themselves the Division One trophy.

The league season started off strongly for Ilminster back in September, and they never looked back since.

After a 3-3 draw with Netherbury they went on a 19-game unbeaten run until a 4-1 defeat to Forton in the very last game of the season took away their claim to an invincible title.

The 19-game streak saw Ilminster register some huge wins including an 11-0 win over Charmouth Firsts, a 7-0 win over Crewkerne Rangers, a 5-0 win over Dowlish Wake and Donyatt, and a walkover victory against Donyatt United.

These big scorelines meant plenty of players got their names on the scoresheet, with 16 different players getting for Ilminster across the season, led by the squad’s top scorer Lewis Bolland who scored 20 goals to put himself third in the league’s golden boot race.

Bolland was a quality up top for Ilminster all season and his 20 goals were vital in their title winning run.

Included in his 20 goals was a fantastic five goal haul against Charmouth, as well as a hat trick against Crewkerne and braces against Donyatt United and Dowlish Wake.

Ilminster’s defensive line also need credit, the team conceded a total of 20 goals whilst scoring 75 across the entire 20 game campaign, which included conceding only a measly nine goals away from home.

Appreciation should be given to coaches Andy Moore and Josh Jackson too, who secured a second promotion in two seasons for Ilminster FC, following their success with the A Team last season.

Their efforts this season have seen the reserves bounce back to the Premier Division at the first time of asking after relegation last year.

It’s been a fantastic season for Ilminster’s Reserves, who will now be back in the Premier Division next season and looking to continue their nigh-on invincible form.