Verde Recreo Hockey League Central 2
Chard 4, Swindon A 1

CHARD quickly took control of the game with some seamless passing and good movement which put the Swindon defence under pressure.

The Chard offensive was interrupted by the occasional Swindon counter-attack, which were swiftly dealt with.

Nick Parkinson and Barnaby Willis linked together well, resulting in a Chard short corner which was clinically slotted into the bottom right corner by Parkinson.

A second goal was added by Harvey Lupton, cheekily chipping the keeper after a neat series of passes.

Swindon came out fighting after the break and pulled a goal back after a well-worked attack.

This seemed to only encourage a response from Chard and they quickly replied with a third goal, coming from Parkinson. 

With momentum behind them, Chard continued pressurising Swindon with the same passing and movement that had been evident throughout the game.

With tiredness beginning to show towards the end of the game, several poorly executed clearances gave the away team some short corners.

These were handled well, with shots blocked by captain Jonny Crease, goalline stops by Arthur Critchley and Simon Green as well as clearances by Danny Grabham.

A fourth goal came once more from a Parkinson short corner, a mirror of his previous one.

A good effort from the entire team gives Chard great confidence going forward into what will be a challenging season in the Central 2 division.

South East 1
Minehead A 7, Chard A 3

THIS game was lost by a woeful first-half performance, as Chard were overrun by a home side playing fast and forceful hockey.

The visitors survived a quarter of an hour of one-way traffic before conceding the first goal and held on a little longer before letting in a second.

When Minehead added a third from a penalty corner and, straight from the restart, Chard lost possession to hand the home side a fourth, there were still the best part of 10 minutes until half-time and a rout looked to be on the cards.

The ball was hardly out of Chard’s half and they struggled to string any passes together.

Some half-time changes denied Minehead the space they had enjoyed through the middle of midfield in the first half and closed down their central playmakers.

Chard began to compete on more equal terms and to create some pressure on the home goal.

It was hard on them when the hosts went 5-0 up courtesy of a dubious penalty flick decision.

Gary Wheaton had a goal ruled out, but Chard’s much improved performance was rewarded when Justin Green swept in a reverse stick effort to make it 5-1. 

Harvey Dening went close to adding a second, but Minehead upped their tempo once more and began to launch an aerial bombardment on the Chard half, and the final quarter produced four more goals.

Dening swiftly reduced the arrears again before Minehead added their seventh, but Rollo Squire made the final score 7-3 late on to reflect Chard’s vastly improved showing in the second half.

Chard: R Green, T Eames, G Bromfield, S Mahoney, J Goddard, J Green, G Wheaton, T Float, M Wheaton, H Dening, R Squire.

n CHARD B were thumped 15-0 by North Devon A in South East 2.

Friendly
Yeovil & Sh Ladies 0, Chard Sunday Ladies 5

CHARD travelled to Yeovil on a lovely sunny morning. 

The teams were both fielding players of all ages and abilities which made for a match which was more even than the score would suggest.

Chard settled quickly and built on solid defence from Becky Black and Lisa Souster to push up to midfielders Julie Saxby, Rachel Durham and Jen Chidley-Sanders. 

They provided an attacking thrust to the forwards and, when Lorna Warren confidently took on the opposition, her cross found Sue Stoker in a position to push in Chard’s first goal. 

Lorna again linked well from midfield this time setting up sister Heidi for Chards second to go in at half time 2-0 up.

Taking nothing for granted Yeovil’s attacks were soundly dealt with by goalie Hannah Rymel and the visitors continued to press up field.

Ros Clemmans worked hard to win the ball on the right and team work between her and the Warren sisters resulted in Lorna scoring a well taken and well-deserved goal.

Chard, now on a roll, added two more late on through Stoker.

ON Saturday, Chard Ladies drew 2-2 at Burnham-on-Sea in Sedgemoor 1.