CHARD are due to play only their second game in the last month when they visit Keynsham in the Toolstation Western league on Saturday (3pm).

And providing there’s no flood of biblical proportions the match is sure to go ahead as Keynsham play their matches on a 3G pitch.

Chard manager Nick Flory said: “It will be great to get back playing again. Apart from the Sherborne game on Boxing Day we’ve been kicking our heels for the past month.

“The lads were really disappointed our match with Roman Glass St George was called off on Saturday but we made the most of things with a really heavy training session on the 3G pitch in Yeovil.

“The players were pushed hard with a lot of fitness and stamina work so they really had a blow.

“We also took the opportunity to work out how we are going to play on the 3G pitch because although it looks like grass it plays a lot truer and the ball does run on.

“We’ll be looking to get the best of players like Rich Hebditch and Sam Clark whose quick movement should be ideally suited to the surface.”

Clark goes into the game sitting top of the Western league scoring charts having scored 24 goals in 21 league and cup matches – more than any other player in either division. The squad will be boosted by the return of Gary Knight, who has been on honeymoon, and Danny Cleal who has been travelling. But midfielder Mark Armstrong will be starting a two match ban.

The Robins remain in second place in the table and have a real chance of grabbing one of the two promotion places.

But there is a real scramble developing at the top of the league and Flory expects the title race to go to the wire.

He said: “There are plenty of teams in with a chance. What we have got to do is pick up the momentum again. Fortunately it’s in our own hands.”