GoCrea8 Southern 1
Chard 1sts 3, Penzance 1sts 1

CHARD lined up against familiar opposition on Saturday, with Penzance trying to beat Chard at the third time of asking, having been lost to them twice last season. 

And, given that both teams were looking for their first points this season, the game was a real ‘six-pointer’.

Chard made a very promising start, with their new tactics creating many more chances going forward, and they were unlucky to go in at half time 0-0.

Both teams were prone to mistakes early in the second half, and Penzance gave away a penalty stroke that allowed Chard to score only their second goal of the season, Angus Chapman squeezed it beneath the keeper.

This was quickly followed by a second Chapman goal as the hosts began to assert their dominance. 

The visitors pulled one back, but again Chard had the response, Nick Parkinson scoring a very well taken goal to finish the game.

Chard have been unlucky to be in the position they are in, and if they continue to play hockey like this then they will be a tough side to beat.

GoCrea8 South East 2
East Devon C 1, Chard A 2

THIS result could turn out to be a defining moment for the 2nd XI this season - a win away to previously unbeaten East Devon, and with the team beginning to play more the way they know they should. 

With captain James Spurdle on prolonged secondment with the first team, deputy Jason Goddard is developing a team spirit which has yielded three consecutive wins and a dogged streak or resilience in the face of pressure. 

In this match Goddard led by example, tirelessly running back in midfield to dispossess opposing forwards as they advanced towards the Chard D, an effort matched only by that of Kyle Wheaton. 

In a goalless first half Chard started brightly, then found themselves on the back foot as the home side found momentum in midfield.

A second half brace from Harvey Dening ultimately won the points, the first coming when good work by Seb Horne saw Dening fire in from a tight angle. 

The second came from a penalty corner, cleanly stopped by Gareth Eggle whose slip pass gave Dening time to pick his spot and hit the target with a fierce low shot. 

Chard spurned chances to extend their lead, with Dening missing a chance to seal his hat-trick and Eggle passing up a couple of presentable opportunities. 

Late in the game Trevor Goss had a flick shot heading into the top corner of the net palmed away.

East Devon reduced the arrears from their first penalty corner, Richard Green getting a touch but unable to prevent the ball finding the net. 

Green pulled off a crucial save from the last action of the match, turning away a strike from East Devon’s only other penalty corner.

Squad: R Green, T Eames, A Critchley, P Tratt, S Mahoney, J Goddard (capt), K Wheaton, M Lane, S Horne, G Eggle, H Dening, T Goss. 

GoCrea8 South East 2
Exeter Hornets B 4, Chard B 1

CHARD came down to reality with a bump as their experienced side was outplayed for large parts of the first half, with the home side quicker to the ball and not allowing Chard to advance. 

Mistakes and slow decision making were capitalised on and Chard went into the break two goals down. 

The second half was more the same at the start but surprisingly their fitness levels seemed to be good enough to trouble Hornets as time went on.

Rollo Squires put in a good amount of effort in occupying the hosts’ defence but, as Chard chased a goal, Hornets scored on the break. 

Chard did manage to pull one back when Squires scored from a penalty corner but scored another goal shortly afterwards from a disputed penalty corner of their own to seal a deserved win which knocked Chard off their lofty position. 

Team: Hibbard, Dare, Mooney, Swann, Lewis, Willis, Johnson, Jones, Swain, Cheffey, Squires.