Toolstation Western League First Division
Chard Town 1, Corsham Town 0

CHARD Town ran out winners by a single goal on Saturday against Corsham Town to record their first home win of the season. 

A good crowd of 106, boosted by a group of former Chard players from the 1960s era, saw these well-matched sides provide some competitive football which compensated for the lack of more goals. 

In the first half, Chard set up several early attacking moves, a cross from Alex Stafie was taken by the Corsham keeper Chris Snoddy together with chances wide of the goal on 20 minutes and a header over the bar some eight minutes later.

Taoufik Ben-Salem almost broke the deadlock with a powerful first-time shot just over the bar on the half-hour and a shot by Ben Haines just wide and a further effort cleared off the line.

Late in the half, the visitors pushed forward and had a scoring chance with a shot just wide.

There then followed a succession of Chard corners before the goal came in added-on time.

Max Westlake cleverly put over a short corner to find James Boyland and, following some close interpassing, the final cross from Boyland was well met by Stafie to head the ball home from close range.

With their one-goal lead, Chard went into the second half again on the attack with some good work from Stafie with a ball across the face of the goal and a header by Andy Holmes well held by the Corsham keeper. 

With end-to-end play, Corsham, for their part, got in a shot also direct to Chard keeper Jon Hill on 52 m inutes to be followed by a good move headed away for a corner with the ball well taken by Hill from the ensuing cross.

On 70 minutes, a further well-judged ball from Stafie was through to Ben-Salem whose effort was again taken by the visitors' keeper.

Late in the game, both sides were awarded a number of free-kicks and the exchanges became boisterous.

With Corsham pushing for an equaliser, the home backline had to defend well to retain their one-goal advantage with the final whistle coming for a Chard victory and the three well-earned points to take them above Corsham to 16th with 18 points.

Chard - Jonathan Hill, Ben Haines, Oliver Pearson, Andy Holmes, Kieran Bailey, Jack Dicker, Max Westlake, Bradley Miles (for Luke Jackson 82mins), Taoufik Ben-Salem, Alexandru Stafie, James Boyland (for Liam Cleal 72mins; Matthew Howell, Octavio Lima & Steven Friend (not used).