THIS was the last league game of the season against second place Sidmouth in N4 Financial Solutions Men’s League South One where both teams were very keen to win, so a tough encounter was expected.

The game started off with Sidmouth pushing hard but a solo break by Marcus Veitch after ten minutes got Chard onto the scoresheet.

Taking the ball all the way to the by-line behind the defenders and Marcus somehow managed to slip the ball behind the keeper.

From then on the run of play was with Chard and the next goal came from Gary Wheaton working the ball down the left wing and his trademark reverse stick cross finding Brendan Viggers to slot the ball into the goal.

This fired the home team up and they replied with their first goal but Chard soon restored their two-goal advantage in an identical move to the second with the same two players linking up.

Chard’s fourth came again from Wheaton making the run cutting inside, drawing his defender then slipping the ball to left hand side of the D where Mike Wakely was waiting to finely execute the finishing ball. Chard finished the half with ten men when Ian Wait was sin binned.

The second half saw Chard under pressure from the off by the home side, but despite numerous penalty corners the defence of Steve Dare, Kevin Mooney, Jason Goddard and Mike Wakely kept them at bay.

Gary Warren in goal was called on several times during the second half and pulled off some outstanding saves. Sidmouth pulled back another goal from a harshly awarded penalty flick which also saw Kevin Mooney sent to the sin bin for the remainder of the game.

Chard were unable to add to their tally during the second half despite some darting runs by Dan Batten and Harvey Lupton. And, in the last five minutes, they were reduced to nine men when Viggers had to leave the field with a knee laceration which required hospital treatment.