CHARD Town's first team and reserves were left kicking their heels on Saturday afternoon due to waterlogged pitches.

The Robins' Western League First Division at Welton Rovers was called off, while the reserves' Devon & Exeter League Division 1 home match against Lyme Regis met the same fate.

This Saturday sees Chard welcome neighbours Bridport to Zembard Lane, in the second round of the Les Phillips Cup (3pm).

There is added spice to the occasion with former Chard manager of three years, Adam Fricker and assistant Jason Behan (who both still live in the town) now in charge at Bridport and having 13 ex-Chard players on their books.

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ONCE again, all of Ilminster Town’s Saturday football was cancelled due to the continued downpours.

The first team’s scheduled home match in the Somerset County Premier Division against Stockwood Green, and the A team’s game in the Perry Street League against Thorncombe, were postponed.

But it is not just Ilminster that is suffering – away matches for the Colts at Perry Street and the Reserves at Culm were also victims of waterlogged pitches.

This coming Saturday Ilminster will try again, with second-placed Watchet Town the visitors to the Archie Gooch Pavilion (ko 2.30pm).

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South West Women’s League
Premier Division
Marine Academy Plymouth 2, Ilminster Town Ladies 1

ILMINSTER travelled to Plymouth to take on one of the league’s strongest sides, who are yet to lose a league game this season.

The Blues travelled with a squad of 12, with Hannah Billing returning and Graziely Esperanca making her first start for Town this season.

Continued on page 47 Ilminster played into the strong wind in the first half, which would prove difficult, especially with the hosts’ direct style of football.

MAP broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, as a corner was headed out of the box, but the second ball across the 18-yard box found the onrushing midfielder, who calmly took a touch and struck the ball home.

But this early goal seemed to add fuel to the Ilminster fire, who started to quickly turn defence into attack, and cause problems for the hosts’ backline.

Town nearly equalised after some great work in the midfield by captain Sarah Miller and Maisie Parker, and striker Shannon Crouch got in behind her marker, but put the ball narrowly over the bar.

At the other end, Dana Andrews, Daisy Charles and Sammie Knight combined well at the back to clear any danger, meaning goalkeeper CJ only had one save to make as the score stayed 1-0 at half time.

The second half was much the same, but the Blues had the wind in their favour.

After some good early pressure, and a Parker effort that hit the crossbar, they found themselves 2-0 down, after a free-kick was parried out and the rebound tucked away on the hour.

Eventually the visitors got the goal their play deserved, in the 78th minute.

Meg Purchase placed the ball down 35 yards from goal, with only one thought in her mind, and her strike rocketed off the underside of the bar and into the net.

The visitors could not equalise, for all their efforts late on, and so MAP secured a narrow win.

Player of the match: Charlie Pettinger

This coming Sunday, Ilminster (now sixth in the table) host basement side AEK Boco at the Archie Gooch Pavilion (ko 2pm).