Toolstation Western League First Division
Cheddar 2, Chard Town 2

THE Robins came back from the foothills of the Mendips last Saturday with a well-earned point against a side who still have a fair chance of promotion, writes Rod Harrington.

Steve Friend took the captain's armband for the game and gave his usual wholehearted performance from the start until he was substituted.

Paul Down's side enjoyed the ideal start as, after only six minutes, the alert James Boyland crashed the ball home from close range following a corner.

A few minutes later he was unlucky when he tried to pounce on a miskick by Kieran Webster, the Cheeseman's keeper.

The home side were sporadically threatening, too, and Kieran Bailey was particularly adept on one occasion to thwart a dangerous-looking attack.

The game went up a gear after the break and, as expected, the Robins had to deal with the immediate implications of the Cheddar manager's half-time talk.

Indeed, Adam Jones with more accuracy might have scored for the hosts after a defensive error allowed him to burst through.

Despite this Chard got forward regularly, and Luke Jackson and Bailey went close before Boyland volleyed flamboyantly over the bar following an excellent long ball from Scott Jakeman.

On 73 minutes the Chard defence was caught for pace and substitute Billy Vaughan, who'd only been on the field of play for 30 seconds, ghosted forward to finish off a sweeping attack from the home side.

But seven minutes later Chard struck back, as a delightful ball from Jackson on the right sent Boyland free and, evading both their defenders and keeper, he slotted the ball into the net at an acute angle.

Unfortunately for the visitors Cheddar soon levelled again on 83 minutes.

Goalkeeper Jon Hill brought down Jones, receiving a yellow card, and Chris Coombes stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

The remainder of the game, including seven minutes added on, saw Chard absorbing the home side's pressure to achieve a very satisfactory point.

While the hosts would be disappointed, as it dented their promotion prospects a little, it was probably a fair result overall.

Chard Town: Jon Hill, Pat Golden, Luke Jackson, Andrew Holmes, Kieran Bailey, Jack Dicker, Jake Wolfe (Matt Howell 69), Brad Miles, James Boyland, Steve Friend (Dave Duarte 62), Scott Jakeman (Max Westlake 84). Subs not used: Stuart Parris, Ryan Mason.