Tunley Battle Hard but Fall to Higher-League Nailsea in Cup Battle

Match Report: Tunley Athletic 0–5 Nailsea United Reserves

18 October 2025 – Tunley Rec Centre

Tunley’s Cup run came to an end on Saturday afternoon as higher division visitors Nailsea United Reserves showed their quality with a 5–0 win at the Rec.

Nailsea entered the second round after an 8–1 victory over Barnwell First, while Tunley’s cup win was a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Shepton Mallet. It was a lively atmosphere at kick-off, with a good crowd braving the autumn chill.

First Half

The opening ten minutes saw both sides probing for openings but creating little. A few long balls went astray, and both teams were caught offside as they tried to break behind the back lines.

In the 10th minute Josh Ayres went aggressively for a head ball, colliding with a Nailsea player and leaving him in need of treatment. In American football, legendary announcer John Madden would often speak of a “de-cleater,” which meant that a block or a tackle had lifted the opponent off their feet. The video shows that this challenge certainly qualifies as a de-cleater. It was a clean challenge, and play resumed after a short delay.

Nailsea began to look more threatening around the 18th minute, forcing several corners down their right side. Tunley’s defending on the set pieces was solid, a clear sign of progress compared to earlier in the season.

At the other end, a Tunley corner in the 22nd minute led to a promising chance. After a Nailsea defender managed to get a slight head on the cross, the ball found its way to Owen Holland. A fierce left-footed volley was on target, but unluckily ended up in the ribcage of a Nailsea defender.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute, and it was one to forget for Tunley. A pair of unfortunate (and uncharacteristic) touches in defence gifted Nailsea possession in the box, and the visitors pounced to take the lead. This “highlight” is not being posted because, well, it’s just not.

Ryan Edmunds was called into action soon after, pulling off a superb diving save in the 27th minute to keep it at 1–0, and another brave stop in the 33rd after a Nailsea forward slipped through.

Tunley nearly responded before the break when a promising move in the 39th minute ended just short of the final connection. But Nailsea doubled their advantage before half-time with a moment of real quality.  A stunning strike off of a well executed give and go from long range into the upper left corner, leaving Edmunds no chance.

Half-time: Tunley 0–2 Nailsea United Reserves

⸻

Second Half

Tunley opened the second half with purpose, creating a dangerous cross in the 47th minute that was inches from finding a finish. Nailsea, however, also looked sharp and composed, heading just over from a cross in the 55th minute.

A foul on the Tunley byline in the 56th minute had the home supporters making their feelings known to the referee. Moments later, Tunley worked a clever short free kick that carried deep into Nailsea territory, resulting in a shot that flashed wide.

Defensively, Tunley showed plenty of fight. Several strong recovery tackles prevented what looked like a certain chances, while Edmunds continued to organise well from the back.

The match began to turn scrappy as both sides voiced frustrations over decisions. A contentious corner awarded to Nailsea in the 69th led to a shove in the box and a free kick going Tunley’s way, but by this stage the visitors had started to control of the ball and the tempo.

In the 71st minute Tunley again showed excellent determination to chase back and snuff out a Nailsea break, but the higher-league side’s fitness and composure eventually told. In the 78th minute a quick counter saw Nailsea break through and slot past a sliding Edmunds for 3–0.

The fourth followed in the 84th minute, a deft left-footed chip from just inside the area that lifted over Edmunds, who was forced off his line.

The fifth arrived a minute later, and if I’m being honest, I don’t even want to talk about it. And I can assure you that no one on the Tunley side ever wants to watch it, again. That said, if you really want to see it, you can watch this 👇🏼.

The referee’s whistle finally brought an end to a difficult afternoon after a curiously extended period of stoppage time.

Final Score: Tunley Athletic 0–5 Nailsea United Reserves

Despite the scoreline, there were positives to take from Tunley’s performance. The side showed defensive organisation and determination, holding Nailsea scoreless for around 25 minutes to start both halves against opposition from a higher division. The back line worked tirelessly under pressure, and several last-ditch tackles kept the team in the contest for long spells. There were also a few moments of tidy play going forward, with Tunley continuing to build confidence and structure in possession. In a game with nothing to lose, Tunley can learn a lot and move forward with confidence as it pivots back to league play.