A SUNNY morning saw Chard Sunday ladies play some of their best hockey to date but still lose 3-2 at home to Bruton ladies.

The visitors were quick to go on the attack but defenders Tina O’Connell, Emma Cridland and Sue Stoker soaked up this initial pressure and with goalie Charlie Carver-Bale pulling out some superb reflex saves, the score sheet remained blank.

Chard began to put together some attacks of their own and on the break Charlotte Mooney went round the opposition to put them in the lead with only ten minutes left of the first half.

Bruton were quick to equalise and evened the score to and then right on the half time whistle went ahead with a well- worked effort.

The second half was an end-to-end battle with Chard determined to at least even the score.

This they did when Emma Wyatt pushed out from defence and passed to Lois Butcher.

Butcher crashed the ball through to Clemmans who got a touch on the edge of the D which diverted the ball into the far left of goal, leaving the keeper stranded.

At 2- 2 Bruton threw everything they could at Chard who played their socks off to try and win the game themselves.

Abbi Wheaton and Sasha Taylor provided attack down the flanks and Ros Clemmans ran all over the place to make space for the ball to get through.

Despite more heroic keeping from Carver-Bale it was the visitors who finally got the winning goal, ending a hard- fought, enjoyable match.

Umpires: Chris Long and Kevin Mooney.