South East 2

Taunton Vale E 1, Chard A 10

AS the scoreline suggests, this was a comprehensive win for the league leaders, but the margin of victory was surpassed by the quality of hockey Chard played to achieve it.

The core of the side is reproducing the same high standard of passing and movement week on week, and the new faces for this fixture quickly adapted to make light of four changes.

Vale started brightly enough and were on equal terms for the first 15 minutes, although they were indebted to their goalkeeper for palming away Alan Cheffey’s blistering shot.

Once Chard’s slick passing game clicked into gear, the pressure on the home side began to build.

Gareth Eggle opened the scoring with a sweetly struck shot from a penalty corner, and Chard quickly added to their account with ruthless efficiency - Bertie Squire, Gary Wheaton and Jason Goddard all finding the net in quick succession before the game was 25 minutes old.

With the luxury of two substitutes, Chard rotated their squad and eased off the pace for the remainder of the half.

With players swapping positions and a sense of the job already done, the passing and ball distribution lacked its earlier crispness, and this gave Vale a chance to get a foothold in the match and pull one back to make it 4-1 at half-time.

An interval talk from Goddard and captain Tom Eames concentrated the team’s minds on reverting to their more fluid style of play.

It took the first 10 minutes after the restart for Chard to get back into their stride but, thereafter, they were irresistible.

Wheaton added his second from another penalty corner to make it 5-1 and then the floodgates opened courtesy of Harvey Dening and Rollo Squire.

Dening fired in the sixth, Squire hit the goal of the game with a screamer into the roof of the net, Dening added his second, and Squire twisted and tormented the Vale defence before deftly placing the ball into the net with a reverse stick flick.

Playing only his second game of the season for the 2nd XI, Josh Davies capped an impressive performance by scoring Chard’s 10th to complete the rout.

Chard: I Rockett, T Eames (c), A Cheffey, S Mahoney, C Knight, J Goddard, R Squire, B Squire, G Wheaton, G Eggle, H Dening, J Davies, W Handel; match sponsor: Barleymow’s Farm Shop & Restaurant

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IN South East 1, Chard men’s firsts won 5-2 at Minehead A.

Chard B were 4-1 winners over ECV Hornets B in South East 2.

Chard Ladies drew 3-3 with White Eagles 2nds in West Clubs Women’s League Sedgemoor 1.

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Friendly match

Salisbury 1, Chard 0

CHARD’S Sunday XI travelled to Salisbury, fielding a strong team for what was an evenly fought match.

Alice Gibbins stood strong in goal, saving many of Salisbury’s attacks, and the whole team worked hard to get the ball back up to the opposing goal.

The only goal of the game went to Salisbury, but there was great defensive and attacking work by all who played for Chard.

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ON a very wet morning Chard Hockey Club’s Under-10s played in a tournament at Wellington.

Despite the weather both boys and girls teams never stopped trying, and their passing and chance creation improved during the morning.

The girls won one game and drew three, with debutant Phoebe Eames defending well, while Layla Dent’s hard work was rewarded with a goal.

Abi Mortimer kicked well in goal.

The boys won one game, drew one and lost two, with all of those games evenly matched and competitive.

Archie Parris created chances with good passing from midfield, and Alex Steele’s endless running was rewarded with a goal in his first tournament.

The teams wish to thank Gary Wheaton and Tom Eames for their support.