CHARD Town travel to bottom club Almondsbury UWE in the First Division of the Toolstation Western League on Saturday (ko 3pm).

Almondsbury are currently 13 points adrift at the foot of the table, but have been showing improved form lately and did draw 3-3 at Chard during October.

Next Wednesday (March 1), Chard entertain Axminster Town from the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Division 1 East in the quarter-final of the Axminster Hospital Cup (ko 7.30pm) - Axminster having 10 former Chard players in their ranks.

Chard’s squad is looking much healthier on Saturday, with Matt Howell, Dave Duarte and Scott Jakeman, all unavailable last Saturday, back in contention.

Max Westlake, who has missed the last five games, is back in training this week, while Shaun WellsBurr and Steve Friend should have recovered from knocks.

Only new signing Jake Wolfe is unavailable. Chard manager Paul Down described last Saturday 2-1 reverse at Bishops Lydeard as “frustrating”.

“After getting level with 20 minutes to go we looked the more likely team to go on and win but, once again, our inexperience showed as we conceded to a goal on the counter having been in possession and missing two good chances to win it.”

NEXT up for Ilminster Town is an away fixture at top-of-the-table Portishead who remain three points ahead of the Blues afters producing a fine 3-0 win at fourth-placed Somerton.

Meanwhile, the exciting Ilminster Town Reserves, who won 2-1 at Sidmouth, have now gone top of the Devon & Exeter Division 7 and now look on course for promotion. They are home next week to Cheriton Fitzpaine with a 3pm kick-off