Somerset Premier Cup first round

Shepton Mallet 2, Chard Town 2 (Chard win 5-4 on penalties)

IN this first round match of the Somerset Premier Cup Chard Town came away with a commendable win against a strong Shepton Mallet side from the league above.

After a pulsating 90 minutes the game went into extra time and with the scores equal at two goals each Chard came out on top in the penalties shoot out by 5-4.

Playing down the slope in the first half Chard had the majority of the attacking play early on with a Matt Howell shot on five minutes and an effort by Alex Staffie just over the bar minutes later.

Following an accurate corner by Max Westlake the ball was headed on for Alex Staffie from some six yards out to open the scoring for Chard on 15 minutes.

Staffie followed this with a great shot which hit the post but, after some close inter passing Shepton Mallet hit back and pushed into the Chard half and scored the equaliser on 20 minutes.

Chard immediately countered on 23 minutes with Bradley Miles in position to put Chard ahead again with a well-directed shot following good approach down the middle of the park.

With further end to end play, Shepton Mallet again brought the scores back to two goals each with a long range shot which curled away from the ‘keeper into the Chard net.

Although the second half still produced some good attacking football the scoring opportunities did not come for either side - a home corner was headed off the line and an effort by Liam Cleal found the side netting.

Shepton Mallet did have several scoring attempts with Jon Hill saving well on 67 minutes.

James Boyland and Ben Haines came on substitutes and, with time running out and in spite of several chances for both sides, the game went into extra time.

At the start of extra time, Bradley Miles was just wide and a Shepton Mallet effort was cleared off the line.

Octavio Lima, making his first appearance for the first team, was on as substitute and put through several accurate balls but the second period came with Chard playing down the slope.

Shepton Mallet looked for the winner early on with Jon Hill pulling off a great save and a further shot going wide.

With time running out a chance for Chard was saved on the line and it looked like the winner was to come when James Boyland went through but before he could complete his shot the Referee blew up to take the game into penalties.

Chard missed the first penalty kick over the bar and, after Shepton Mallet scored, Max Westlake and Ollie Pearson put home the next two spot kicks.

Jon Hill then saved well to bring matters level.

James Boyland and Alex Staffie kept cool heads to score Chard’s third and fourth with Jon Hill again saving the next hosts powerful shot only to see the ball creep over the line.

With only two kicks remaining David Dursate powered in Chard’s fifth goal and Shepton Mallets last kick was over the bar to give Chard a memorable victory and into the draw for the next round.  

Chard: Jonathan Hill, David Durate,Oliver Pearson, Andrew Holmes (Ben Haines), Kieran Bailey, Luke Jackson (Octavio Lima) Max Westlake, Matthew Howell, Alexandru Staffie, Bradley Miles, Liam Cleal (James Boyland)