This outstanding 4-0 victory took Ilminster Town to the summit of the Somerset County Premier Division on goal difference for the first time since 2005/06 when they were top for a short period.

Nailsea United who had won all six of their previous matches topped the league at the start of play, with the Blues three points behind in second place.

The match started at a frantic pace with both sides fully committed. Neither side managed a shot on goal in the first half an hour as both defences looked solid.

Dan Peach and Harry Saunders slowly began to get a foot hold in mid field as the Town started to take control.

Ilminster created their first good chance in the 36th minute, a fast paced counterattack saw the ball work out wide to Kieran Manley who delivered a great cross into the path of Owen Burn, he headed the ball down only to see the hard ground take the ball inches over the bar.

It took a set piece to break the deadlock in the 39th minute when from a Lee Sweet Corner, Josh Phillips made a run across his man to head home at the near post for 1-0.

Three minutes later from another Sweet corner, Tom Case came in powerfully at the back post, timing his header to perfection to give the keeper no chance to make it 2-0.

The Blues started the second half sharp putting the visitor’s keeper under pressure, twice he gave the ball away, the first time he got away with it, the second Sweet crossed the ball where Kieran Manley passed it into the bottom corner to give his side 3-0 lead.

It was one way traffic now Phillips burst through only to see the keeper fast of his line to block the attempted lob, Manley was denied his second when the keeper made a great save with his feet.

A great team move then ripped Nailsea apart, Paulo Borges (who had been out for a couple of matches with a tight hamstring) was on as substitute, with the cross slightly behind him, he could not generate enough power to finish what would have been a great goal.

Joe Berry the Nailsea top scorer who had looked lively throughout made a good run, with Owen Burn making up the ground to make a great clearance off the line to keep it at 3-0.

With a seven-goal difference deficit to Nailsea before the match, after coming off the bench Brad Pitman played in Borges who ran though rounded the keeper and made it 4-0 to put the icing on the cake and take his team to top of the League on goal difference.

The whole team were on top of their game all afternoon with some great performances throughout, Star man was Louis Rutter who was outstanding in the defence.

After the match manager Jason ‘Paddy’ Behan remained his normal cool self with the words to keep his team from getting carried away. “There’s a long way to go yet.”

Team: Shay Allen, Tom Case, Kane Lee, Louis Rutter, Owen Burn, Harvey Saunders, Dan Peach, Josh Phillips, Kieran Manley, Lee Sweet, Taylor Jefferson Subs Used: Paulo Borges, Brad Pitman, Charlie Rutter

Ilminster are home on Saturday where Bishops Sutton visit the Archie Gooch Pavilion with a 3.00pm kick off.