GoCrea8 Southern 1
University of Exeter D 3, Chard 1

CHARD men’s 1st XI were unable to build on last week’s 3-0 win over Torbay, as they succumbed 3-1 to league leaders University of Exeter D.

They sit second from bottom in the table, three points behind Bodmin, who travel to Chard for a significant match this coming Saturday (2pm start).

GoCrea8 South East 2
Chard A 8, Bridgwater C 0

GARETH Eggle scored four and second-half super-sub Trevor Goss grabbed a brace as Chard emphatically avenged their only defeat so far this season against a weakened Bridgwater side.

Being the first competitive match for most since December 16, Chard were rusty early on, and even after Kyle Wheaton scored the opener, picking up the ball on halfway and sprinting into the D in a rapid counter-attack, Bridgwater were still very much in it.

Eggle’s first two goals before the interval put Chard more comfortably in control, both scored with sweet shots from the top of the D.

After a short lull at the start of the second half, Eggle completed his hat-trick with a clean stop and shot from a penalty corner.

The fifth goal arrived a couple of minutes later, Justin Green turning away from close marking to net.

The hosts were rampant now, and substitute Goss scored the sixth from another penalty corner, before Eggle snapped up a rebound to fire in his fourth and Chard’s seventh.

The hosts were camped in the Bridgwater half as the clock ran down, and the win was rounded off with a neat exchange between Wheaton and Goss for the latter to score again.

Thanks to umpires Hannah McGowan and Andy Swain.

Chard squad: R Green, T Eames, A Critchley, P Tratt, S Mahoney, J Green, C Knight, J Goddard (capt), S Horne, G Eggle, K Wheaton, T Goss.

GoCrea8 South East 2
Taunton Civil Service A 4, Chard B 3

IT was not a good day at the office for Chard B, who fell two goals behind before the break against a more energised home team.

Despite Chard switching the team around, they could not achieve enough quick passing, and when they did there were a number of blatant fouls.

The visitors pulled one back from a penalty corner via Richard Jones but mistakes at the back saw another goal conceded.

Durgan Cooper ran past the defence to slot home but Chard were reduced to nine players and, although Steve Dare levelled from a penalty corner, as Chard pushed to get the winner, CS netted from a penalty corner of their own to take the points.

Chard squad: Hibbard, Dare, Mooney, Millet, Cheffey, Grossey, Float, Bromfield, Lewis, Squire, D. Cooper, B. Cooper, Jones.

***

CHARD Ladies were without a game last weekend, but they look to maintain their lead at the top of Sedgemoor Division 2 as they go to Taw Valley 2nds, who are fourth, this Saturday (11.30am).