GoCrea8 Men’s League
Southern 1
Chard 0, Isca B 10

CHARD men’s 1sts suffered a heavy defeat at home to Isca 3rds on Saturday, shipping 10 goals to remain second bottom in the table.

They are three points adrift of third-bottom Bodmin, and so this Saturday’s match at basement side Penzance (2.30pm) looks crucial.

South East 2
Sidmouth & Ottery B 3, Chard A 4

IT was a close-run thing, but a deserved win for table-topping Chard A, who kept their composure after falling behind early on.

The home side deserved their early lead, the goal coming inside the first five minutes.

But patient approach from Chard set up Trevor Goss, whose shot into the far corner of the net beat the keeper’s outstretched leg to equalise.

Within five minutes, Gareth Eggle’s long pass put Kyle Wheaton through and, although the keeper parried his first effort, Wheaton got to the rebound and walked it in.

Sidmouth swarmed forward from the restart, but the away side withstood this initial onslaught.

When Harvey Dening put Eggle away, he squared the ball for Wheaton to fire home his second.

Just two minutes later, Chard were 4-1 ahead, as Dening himself rounded off another swift move.

That should have been the points wrapped up but, with 10 minutes to go, Sidmouth converted from a penalty corner, and almost immediately after the restart they made it 4-3.

Chard had plenty of chances on the counter-attack to put the result beyond doubt but could not score, while goalkeeper Richard Green pulled off a number of crucial saves from a barrage of penalty corners.

Gritty defence and a huge physical effort from Jason Goddard and Chris Knight in midfield helped see Chard through to another valuable victory.

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

On Saturday, Chard host East Devon C in a top-of-the-table clash (2pm).

South East 2
Bridgwater C 2, Chard B 2

CHARD 3rds travelled to Bridgwater, who were a point ahead of them, and the visitors started brightly.

The away side created some good opportunities in the first 10 minutes, with Rollo Squire and Durgan Cooper going close.

But Bridgwater began to take control of midfield and led 2-0 at half time, with the first goal coming from a neat passing move and the second from a penalty corner.

The hosts continued to boss the middle of the pitch, but two amazing saves from Kacey Hibbard kept the visitors in the game.

Chard then grabbed two goals in the last 10 minutes, as Richard Jones’ shot was saved and Duncan Lewis flicked in the rebound.

A reverse stick shot from Charlie Grossey then beat the keeper to earn Chard a point - this Saturday, they host ECV Hornets (12.30pm). 

Chard squad: Hibbard, Mooney, G Grossey, Float, Millet, Lewis, Jones, Bromfield, Squire, B Cooper, Boobier, C Grossey, D Cooper.

West Clubs Women’s League
Sedgemoor Division 2
White Eagles 3rds 0, Chard 3

CHARD ladies kept their nine-point advantage at the top of Sedgemoor Division 2 with a 3-0 victory at fourth-placed White Eagles 3rds.

The goals came from Kerryn Mullis (2) and Charlotte Mooney.

On Saturday Chard go to Minehead 2nds, who are seventh (10.30am).