CHARD Sunday Ladies were edged out 2-1 by their Sidmouth & Ottery counterparts.

Just when it looked like the game would end in a draw, Sidmouth attacked with force and a high shot dipped down to slam against the backboards for the winning goal.

The cold but sunny weather provided ideal conditions for this closely-contested match.

Chard started confidently. With Lois Butcher providing thrust down the left and Charlotte Mooney full of running in the centre, they looked the team most likely score first.

However it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when a scramble in the D resulted in a deflected goal.

Chard were quick to reply when Mooney’s shot on goal was only cleared as far as Butcher who made no mistake in planting the ball in the back of the net.

Defenders Emma Wyatt, Tess Burrows and Emma Cridland tackled well to keep the score to 1-1 at halftime.

The second half saw Abbi Wheaton charging forward with Ros Clemmans and Isobel Harding to put pressure on the Sidmouth defenders time and again – only for the visitors to strike late on.

Umpires: Chris Long and Max Beagle.