South East 2

Chard A 5, Sidmouth & Ottery C 3

A WEEK without a match did Chard A no favours, as they produced some of their worst hockey of the season thus far – but just about managed to see off a youthful Sidmouth & Ottery.

Their expected squad of 14 evaporating due to late withdrawals, Chard started with a bare 11, which never improved beyond a threadbare 12.

There was a 2nd XI debut for Josh Davies and a first game of the season for Justin Green.

Chard raced into a two-goal lead within 10 minutes, Harvey Dening firing home from an early penalty corner and Jason Goddard deflecting another Dening shot in from close range.

The visitors had been all at sea defensively but when they got into their stride coming forward it quickly became apparent their young forwards were going to be a handful.

Sidmouth pulled a goal back from a penalty corner but the hosts restored their two-goal cushion with a fine shot from Rollo Squire.

Although 3-1 up, Chard’s incisive passing and movement of the first quarter hour had been lost, as simple passing opportunities were ignored, and players tried and failed to dribble through tackles.

The situation became even worse after the interval and lost possession bred more mistakes, enabling Sidmouth to gain the initiative and win a string of penalty corners.

When they scored their second goal with 15 minutes left, there was a serious risk of Chard’s 100 per cent record being lost.

Fortunately for the home side, they pulled themselves together and produced meaningful attacking moves.

Gareth Eggle eased the pressure with a crisp shot from the angle which found the far corner of the net and Dening added his second of the afternoon to make the game safe.

It could have been even better but Dening missed a sitter when put through by Tom Float before almost scoring with a trademark reverse stick shot which flashed across goal.

Sidmouth still had the legs to mount the final attack of the game and added a third goal of their own.

Chard had done just enough but must get back to the style of play which has served them so well.

Chard: N Gage, T Eames (c), J Green, P Tratt, S Mahoney, J Goddard, J Davies, R Squire, T Float, M Wheaton, G Eggle, H Dening.

CHARD men’s 1sts picked up their first away win of the season on Saturday, beating Sidmouth & Ottery 1-0 in South East A.

Chard now sit fifth ahead of this Saturday’s home game against North Devon A.

Chard B went down 2-0 at Isca B in South East 2, while the A team remain top after their sixth win on the bounce - see back page for their report.

Chard ladies 1sts were beaten 10-1 at Sidmouth & Ottery in Sedgemoor 1 and host ECVH on Saturday.

Friendly

Chard Sunday Ladies 1, Sidmouth & Ottery Ladies 2

CHARD added some of their players to a core of the Ottery and Sidmouth team to provide an evenly fought and enjoyable match.

The home team broke the deadlock with a well deserved goal from Isabelle Applegate from a Sophie Gibbons pass.

The opposition didn’t give up and were rewarded with an equaliser.

After half time, Chard came out on the attack and continued to press on the Sidmouth and Ottery goal time and time again.

Only solid defending and goalkeeping prevented the home team from getting the winning goal as they pushed players forward and assaulted the opposition D.

Having held the match to a draw right until the dying minutes, Ottery broke away to get the winning goal just as the final whistle blew.

Thanks go to Chris Long and Danny Grabham for umpiring.