Toolstation Western League
First Division
Chard Town 2, Cheddar 2

LAST Wednesday night saw Chard Town entertain a very useful Cheddar side, only denied victory in the dying seconds of the game.

The Robins got off to an excellent start, when after only five minutes a long ball from Steve Friend found marauding right-back Ben Haines, who turned his defender and hammered the ball into the net.

Home goalkeeper Jon Hill was called on to make a couple of fine last-ditch saves at the feet of Cheddar's dangerous strikers, before the visitors equalised through Steve Pennington on 25 minutes.

James Boyland gave the advantage back to the hosts 12 minutes later, when he broke through the defence to slide the ball past the keeper.

After the break the Robins dominated for a while, creating some good chances, but increasingly the visitors began to put intense pressure on the Chard rearguard.

They were rewarded after four minutes of added time, when a somewhat bizarre goal earned them a point.

A long throw by Danny Griffiths into the Chard goalmouth evaded the keeper, and the ball appeared to come off a defender's leg into the net in a frantic attempt to clear it away.

Chard Town: Jon Hill, Ben Haines, Olly Pearson, Andrew Holmes, Kieran Bailey, Ryan Parris, Max Westlake (Pat Golden 85), Matt Howell (Dave Duarte 85), Steve Friend (Jack Dicker 75), James Boyland, Liam Cleal. Sub not used: Stuart Parris.

The result leaves Chard ninth in the First Division table, and on Saturday they host Chippenham Park (ko 3pm).