Toolstation Western League First Division

Chard Town 0, Almondsbury 1

CHARD Town rounded off their home campaign with a disappointing defeat to Almondsbury.

The visitors scored a solitary goal early in the second half but this game will live long in the memory for the “goal that wasn’t”

Just 10 minutes into the game James Boyland was through with his shot rebounding off the ‘keeper with a further effort going away.

A free kick for Almondsbury was saved adjacent the near post by Jon Hill.

Late in the half Chard looked to have gone ahead when from a scramble in the goal mouth the ball appeared to go in off the top of the post into the roof of the net with the ‘keeper hooking the ball clear.

With this reprieve Almondsbury came out for the second half and broke the deadlock on 50 minutes.

Their captain Ashley Knight, who controlled their midfield throughout the game with some accurate passes, provided a well-judged through ball for Alex Bisp to go past the defence and strike the ball home.

Chard then had most of the attacking play with a number of scoring chances – a cross by Boyland on 65 minutes saw Ben-Salem misjudge his shot when in a great position together with a Matt Howell effort straight at the ‘keeper who pushed the ball away for a corner.

A final chance saw a free kick awarded just outside the penalty box crash against the visitor’s cross bar for them to go away with the three points

Chard: Jonathan Hill, Ben Haines, Oliver Pearson, Andrew Holmes (for Patrick Golden 36mins) Kieran Bailey, Ryan Parris (for Steve Friend 86mins) Max Westlake, Matthew Howell, Taoufik Ben-Salem, James Boyland, Liam Cleal; Subs not used: Dave Durate, Stuart Parris.