Toolstation Western League
First Division
Calne Town 1, Chard Town 0

THIS was a disappointing result for Chard Town, with both sides sitting near the top of the table.

In excellent conditions, a scrambled goal midway through the first half proved decisive.

The opening exchanges saw Chard create two early chances, with a shot wide by Nathan Warren from Andy Holmes’ long throw, and Warren then tested the keeper with a 30-yard strike.

Calne had a shot headed clear, then Tom Boakes, in space, fired high and wide.

The home side upped the ante and the goal came just past the half-hour, when a pass across the Chard backline was intercepted, allowing Stuart Windsor to put through Matthew Jenkins, who squeezed the ball into the net.

In the second half, Ryan Parris replaced Tom Salter and an early good move by James Boyland saw Liam Cleal’s effort go wide.

Chard stepped up the pressure but the home defence held firm and Calne keeper Martin Mitchell took his record of clean sheets this season to seven.

Although there were flashes of good football, neither side could find that quality to finish and the play was too narrow.

The Robins remain second in the table on 20 points, but Calne are now one of four other sides on that same tally.

Chard: Scott Wells-Burr, Ben Haines, Oliver Pearson, Andrew Holmes, Kieran Bailey, Thomas Salter, (Ryan Parris 46), Matthew Howell, Nathan Warren, Stephen Friend (Jacob Manley 85) James Boyland, Liam Cleal. Subs not used: Max Westlake, Elliot Dyer.

***

Somerset Floodlight Youth League
Winscombe Under-18s 3, 
Chard Town Under-18s 2

THE Young Robins dropped to second place in the South Division following a 3-2 defeat away at Winscombe, in a topsy-turvy game which saw the hosts themselves claim top spot. 

For the second match in a row, it was a case of what might have been for a Chard side who were below par and resorted far too easily to the long ball, when their quick, neat passing and pace is what has caused opponents most problems.

Chard found themselves 1-0 down after only five minutes, after a seemingly innocuous free-kick managed to drift through a number of players, resulting in a simple tap-in for a Winscombe striker. 

However, Harry Perren, who turned in a man-of-the-match performance, pounced on a poor backpass on 20 minutes to draw Chard level. 

A Bradley Loaring glancing header from an Alex Harper corner saw the Robins take the lead early in the second half, only for poor defending late on to turn the game in Winscombe’s favour. 

A simple through ball down the middle on 72 minutes wasn’t dealt with by the visiting defence, and the Winscombe striker finished neatly past goalkeeper Owen Searle.

Another mistake at the back, on 81 minutes, saw Winscombe take the lead for the second time in the game. 

This time Chard were unable to respond, and with four weeks until they play a league game again, manager Garry Perren and his coaching staff will hope to rediscover the undoubted talent, and level of play, in a squad that started their league campaign so well.

With an upturn in confidence, they can no doubt bounce back quickly.