CHARD B lost 2-1 at home to table-toppers Bridgwater C in what turned out to be an unpleasant encounter in South East 3 of the Davis Wood league.

The problems started in the first ten minutes as a Bridgwater player was adjuded to have hit a Chard player off the ball. The visitors were reduced to ten men for the rest of the first half but tensions were high and Chard could not capitalise on the superior numbers.

Chard continued to push forward but did not pass with any accuracy or conviction. A series of penalty corners saw them go close to scoring but in general Bridgwater’s defence dealt with them well.

The second half had Chard re-organise due to some injuries and they continued to be in the ascendency, creating the better chances. Nathan Johnson and Fraser Lewis went close but an in-form goalie kept the efforts at bay.

Eventually Chard scored from a penalty corner as Andy Swain squeezed the ball home.

The inevitable happened as Chard pushed forward to score a second and a quick break by Bridgwater saw their best player reverse stick a shot past Grahame Johnson in goal.

The game again became messy as another Bridgwater player was sin-binned but as they reached full numbers again a speculative cross deflected off a Chard stick and into the goal.

Chard: G Johnson, C Knight, A Swain, K Mooney, D Grabham, M Winch, F Lewis, A Cheffey, D Lewis, N Johnson, J Float, A Veitch, N Johnson, H Felgate. Umpires: Hannah McGowan and Gareth Eggle. Match sponsor: Albert Goodman.