DOM Balian made a great goal-line stop in the second half to earn Chard a 3-3 draw with Taunton Vale C in South East 1 of the Davis Wood league.

The first 20 minutes of the match were played in very wet conditions and Vale took advantage of a lethargic Chard team to go 2-0 up.

However when the rain ceased Chard got more into the swing of things.

Some good passing through midfield from Balian, Brendan Viggers and Liam Murphy found Bertie Squires on the 25 who layed off to Matt Sheahan at the top of the D to put a reverse shot in the bottom corner.

Chard kept up this spell of pressure and Sheahan was awarded a penalty corner. Viggers laid off to Murphy who put a powerful shot straight in the corner to level the scores.

Chard came out after half time in a determined mood.

They were soon rewarded after a good run from Murphy found Sheahan in the D and with a little lift over the Vale defender’s stick he teed up Squires for a precision finish to make it 3-2. Vale equalised from a penalty corner but Chard really upped their effort after this and relentlessy attacked the Vale goal.

There was some great attacking down the wing from Gary Wheaton and some good moves from his son Kyle up front.

Any Vale attacks were defended well by Jonny Crease, Jason Goddard and Fraser Louis, while the ball was moved straight back up the pitch well by Max Beale who had an assured game and refused to buckle under the pressure of the hassling Vale forwards. The Vale keeper was in good form and made some good saves to keep it 3-3 but Chard still needed Balian’s intervention to make sure of a point.

This Saturday Chard entertain Isca D.