West Clubs Women’s League
Sedgemoor Division 1
White Eagles 2nds 1, Chard 5

CHARD ladies won their last match of the season to keep their survival hopes alive – but now they must wait on the outcome of Winscombe 2nds’ match with ECVH this coming Saturday.

Goals from the free-scoring Ruth Butcher (2), Emma Cridland, Sasha Taylor and Charlotte Mooney gave them their fourth straight victory, away to bottom side White Eagles 2nds.

Beth Beale was Chard’s player of the match on her season debut.

Their dramatic upturn in fortunes – which has seen them defeat ECVH 4-2, Taunton Vale 3rds 4-3, Burnham-on-Sea 8-1 and now White Eagles 2nds in the last month – puts them one point ahead of second-bottom Winscombe 2nds, who have a game in hand due to a cancellation earlier in the season.

Winscombe host mid-table ECVH on Saturday (April 1), and Chard need them to lose or draw in order to avoid relegation, with Chard’s goal difference now superior by two.

How important that goal difference will prove, only time will tell, but Chard can at least congratulate themselves on 21 goals scored in four games.

***

Friendly Match
Sidmouth & Ottery 2, Chard 2

CHARD ladies travelled to Sidmouth on a glorious sunny morning for a Sunday friendly fixture.

With Sidmouth fielding young, fast players, Chard had to be alert early on.

In fact they soon had the lead, as Lois Butcher converted a short corner.

Sidmouth moved up a gear, but with strong defence and Julie Saxby running round like a headless chicken in the midfield they struggled to get through.

Sidmouth finally equalised courtesy of a penalty flick, and then led, scoring their second after a quick passing move, and it remained 2-1 at half time.

Chard dominated the second half, and from another short corner Butcher got the decisive touch, the ball trickling in for 2-2.

Chard kept fighting but had to settle for a well-contested draw.