GoCrea8 Southern 1
Chard 1st XI 1, University of Exeter D 7

IT was to be another tough test for recently-promoted Chard as they took on a team who will surely be serious title contenders. 

The game started in similar fashion to the previous week, with the university side dominating early possession and converting their chances by scoring four in the first half. 

Much like last week, Chard had little to offer at the other end of the pitch, but a change to a four-man midfield allowed them to regain some control over the game and threaten the opposition goal. 

It was when they secured a short corner that they finally converted their first goal of the season through Matt Sheahan.

Following a similar pattern to the week before, however, Chard capitulated and let in three late goals which didn’t reflect their much-improved second-half performance.

Chard are in for a tough season but are showing signs of improvement.
Chard visit Bodmin on Saturday.

South East 2
Chard B 6, Taunton C.S A 3

HAVING lost their first league game against Chard seconds the week before, Chard B started this match against Taunton Civil Service on the front foot.

They managed to open up the visitors defence and were soon in front when Richard Jones’ shot was deflected into the net before Rollo Squires and John Reader extended the lead. 

Civil Service were frustrated and a couple of green cards meant they should have been on the back foot, but it seemed to have the opposite effect with the visitors playing a lot more assuredly and they soon converted one of their chances.

Chard got back on track when Duncan Lewis scored from a penalty corner and Alfie Crump added a fifth before Taunton pulled a goal back prior to half-time. 

With all this end-to-end activity, both sides in the second half slowed down and attacks were halted by the experienced defences. 

Civil Service scored the first goal of the second period from a penalty corner when a save by Coombes was flicked past captain Cheffey flaying at the ball on the goal-line. 

Chard had a period of more possession around the Civil Service ‘D’ and, as the ball broke loose, Lewis was on hand to slot the ball home to secure the victory. 

Chard: Coombes, Dare, Mooney, Willis, Cheffey, Lewis, Swain, Jones, Reader, Crump, Squires, Horne, Bromfield

Sedgemoor 2
Weston-super-Mare 0, Chard 3 

CHARD Ladies have secured their third consecutive win, beating Weston-super-Mare away 3-0. 

Struggling with holidays and university open days, Chard travelled with 11 players to continue their aim for an undefeated season. 

Chard were immediately on the attack, and fantastic runs down the right by Abbi Wheaton set the tone. 

Joined by young legs in newly-recruited forwards Evie Dewhurst and Jess Withers, the Weston defence was immediately challenged. 

Weston’s keeper denied the young Chard players until Dewhurst was rewarded in the first half with her first goal of the season. 

Chard’s defence worked hard to keep the Weston attack at bay after the break and a strong short corner performance from Weston forced keeper Hannah McGown to make a challenging left-hand pad save. 

Despite this, Chard continued to be the dominant attacking team and they were soon rewarded with a second goal from Misha Taylor. 

Beautiful passing play from Lou Wrightson to Emma Cridland to Withers then sent the ball from defence to forward in two sweet passes. 

Withers was quick to finish, nutmegging the Weston keeper and securing Chard their deserved third goal. 

Weston weren’t to give up and a rebound from McGown sent a follow-up strike flying mid-height at goal, but a nice guide down to third man from cricketer Lorraine Szczepanski ensured Chard finished with a clean sheet and three points. 

Man of the match Evie Dewhurst. 

Squad: Hannah McGown (C), Lorraine Szczepanski, Lou Wrightson, EJ Hines, Natalie Slade, Misha Taylor, Emma Cridland, Tess Down, Abbi Wheaton, Jess Withers, Evie Dewhurst. 

Blandford & Sturminster 3, Chard 1

CHARD Ladies’ Sunday team headed to Blandford on a sunny morning. 

Chard fielded a young side with lots of spirit, but were challenged from the offset with Blandford constantly chasing the ball down and pressing the visitors hard.

Blandford managed to make a few breaks through and scored three goals in the first half, but Chard didn’t let this dampen their spirits and continued to fight back to get the ball up into the opposition D. 

They got on the scoresheet themselves when, from a short corner, Ros Clemmans deflected Lois Butcher’s effort into the top right-hand corner of the goal. 

Chard continued to keep Blandford at bay and worked hard to keep a clean sheet in the second half.