CHARD Town U-18s beat their Ashton & Backwell counterparts 1-0 in the Somerset Floodlight Football League to regain top spot.

Chard, who had suffered nine successive postponements and had not played since early November, thus gained revenge for a 2-1 away defeat earlier in the season.

On a sticky pitch, wide players Dan Anjos and Nathan Storey were prominent throughout for Chard.

However, it was not until the stroke of half time, that Chard took the lead, when Storey arrowed in a corner to the near post, for debutant Sam Rowswell to send a glancing header inside the far post.

The visitors were a physical and direct side but found home 'keeper Jake Symes cutting out most of their high balls into the box and distributing the ball well.

Both Anjos and Braeden Symes went close for Chard before Symes broke away only for the visitors' keeper to block the ball with his legs, well outside the penalty area.

Chard are due to visit Gillingham Town in the league next Thursday, kick-off 7.45pm.