Uhlsport Somerset County League Premier Division

Fry Club 2, Chard Town 1

CHARD Town luck ran out again when a short period in the second half saw the home side come from behind after a first half goal from Marky Jones had put Chard ahead.

In the first half, Fry Club had the better of the attacking play early on with Chard’s ‘keeper Owen Searle pulling off several excellent saves together with some stout defending by the backline.

Chard pushed forward and the opening goal came on 15 minutes when James Boyland went through past the left back to cross for Jones, who scored with a well-judged shot past the home ‘keeper.

Good attacking play by Chard saw Marky Jones put in a further shot on target saved by the ‘keeper.

The hosts then set up some well-judged attacks with Searle making a fine save on 26 minutes together with a great one-handed effort from a header 12 minutes later.

Early in the second half, Conor Richardson was replaced by Ryan Mason following a knee injury to the central midfielder.

With a reorganized midfield, Fry Club pushed up well into the Chard area and set up several good moves, from one of which they equalized from close range on 63 minutes together.

They then went ahead with a second goal from a corner kick just five minutes later.

Chard, to their credit, did not give up the cause and put together some good footballing moves with Alex Harper finding Liam Cleal whose shot was saved by the ‘keeper.

Harper also fired in a long-range shot saved by the ‘keeper then came what looked like the equalizer when Boyland followed up a rebound off the ‘keeper with the ball in the net but ruled offside by the Match Officials.

With Andrew Holmes replacing Liam Cleal late in the game, his long throw saw a header fall just wide and a final effort by Chard saw Ryan Mason’s shot again go narrowly wide.

Chard Town: Owen Searle, Thomas Salter, Danny Cleal, Daniel O’Connor, Conor Richardson (Ryan Mason) Ryan Parris (captain) Alex Harper, Josh Lukins, Marky Jones, James Boyland, Liam Cleal (for Andrew Holmes)

Uhlsport Somerset County League Premier Division

Stockwood Wanderers 1, Ilminster Town 3

STOCKWOOD Wanderers is never an easy place to visit, with a small compact ground, but Ilminster Town's 3-1 win on Saturday made it three on the bounce for the Blues, writes Andy Fish.

Taylor Jefferson once again led the way with two goals in the first half, Lee Sweet getting the third, and the win pushes them up to eighth in the table – having been bottom just three games ago.

There were three changes from the previous week; with skipper Doug Whitfield injured, Sam Tratt came in at centre-back, while Rich Crabb and Carl Lazenby also came into the team.

The gameplan was to start strongly and put Stockwood on the back foot right from the off.

This worked perfectly, as within the first five minutes skipper Lazenby threaded through a ball into the path of Jefferson, who finished calmly to make it 1-0.

Just a few minutes later, on the counter-attack, Crabb picked up the ball out wide before playing it into Charlie Rutter, who held it up before picking out the rapid Jefferson, the striker producing a great finish by chipping the keeper from 20 yards.

Ilminster then seemed to rest on their laurels rather than look to kill the game off, and were duly punished with the home side pulling one back before the break.

After a few stern words at half-time, a reinvigorated Blues side took the game to Stockwood.

A long throw was flicked on by Rutter, and Brad Pitman outpaced his marker before playing a great ball into the path of Sweet, who produced a spectacular finish from the edge of the box to make it 3-1.

The game then turned scrappy, with the visitors soaking up pressure as a number of free-kicks and corners caused problems, but the defence remained solid and they deservedly saw the match out.

Credit must once again go to Jefferson who is on a real hot streak; he now has seven goals in eight matches this season, including five in the last three

But the man of the match award went to his cousin Owen Burn, who since moving to centre-back has shown class and maturity beyond his years.

Ilminster Town: Jack Rutter, Owen Burn, Rich Crabb, Brad Pitman, Luke Paul, Sam Tratt, Ben Pitman, Carl Lazenby, Lee Sweet, Taylor Jefferson, Charlie Rutter. Subs (used): Mitch Hooper, Andy Whitefield.

The Blues are without a fixture this coming Saturday, returning to action on October 12, away to Division 1 side Minehead in the Premier & Division 1 Cup.

Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 3

Combe St Nicholas 1, Banwell 1

BANWELL were the visitors to Slade's Cross to take on Combe St Nicholas on Saturday.

Combe started the game well and were working hard to keep the opposition at arm's length.

Banwell threatened on the counter-attack, while Jack Steer was unlucky with a half-chance as the game was bubbling up nicely.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Banwell scored a great team move ending with a fantastic long-range effort into the top corner.

The Saints came out flying in the second half and Jack Male saw a shot saved by the goalkeeper.

The hosts really had their tails up now, and a cracking run down the line by Joe Allen resulted in a cross that the keeper parried on to the post, with Steer on hand to tap in.

Banwell's keeper was then sent off for pulling down Kieran Manley when he was in on goal, but although half-chances fell to Charlie Male, Dan Anjos and Sam Sheldrake, it just wasn't meant to be and the points were shared.

This coming Saturday, Combe host Division 1 side Uphill Castle in the Somerset Senior Cup second round.