CHARD Sunday Ladies won 3-1 at Sidmouth and Ottery.

Chard began in fine spirits, enjoying a lot of the play while the less experienced home team settled in.

Chard made the first breakthrough when a short corner a was awarded. Lois Butcher fired it in and full-back Emma Wyatt stepped up to convert from just inside the D.

Sidmouth and Ottery battled back and Sasha Taylor, Hannah Billing and Michelle Allen all had to work hard to dig the ball out in midfield and to keep the score at 1-0 at half time.

The second half was again end- to-end stuff with Georgia Caird, Ros Clemmans and Charlotte Mooney leading the forward thrust.

Ottery’s determination paid off though when they latched on to a weak clearance and equalised.

Chard upped their workrate and after a goal-mouth skirmish Clemmans touched in for the lead. The visitors dug in, and with Butcher helping out in both defence and midfield, Chard withstood the home team’s onslaught.

They on a break forward they sealed the victory when Billing smashed in a reverse stick shot.

Umpire: Gary Wheaton.