Toolstation Western League First Division

Radstock Town 1, Chard Town 2

CHARD Town came away from Radstock Town on Saturday last with a well-earned victory and three points to retain their position at the top of the league.

With four players of the first team unavailable and James Boyland out with an injured hamstring, Chard named two under-18s as substitutes when Jacob Manley suffered an ankle injury during the warm-up.

However, Christian Blango, in his first game in Chard colours, and Dan Collins stepped up with both fitting in well to the depleted front line.

Chard from the kick off set up several attacking moves with Collins’ speed causing problems to create openings in the Radstock defence.

An opening goal came on 12 minutes when the home ‘keeper Jack Scrivens failed to hold a powerful drive and Tom Salter followed up to strike the ball home with a first time shot into the net.

Radstock countered with a shot over the bar and a further attempt wide from a long throw-in, but Chard had the best of the scoring opportunities for the rest of the half with Elliot Dyer heading just wide on 35 minutes.

Radstock came out for the second half with more positive play but most of their efforts were long-range and comfortably dealt with by a well-organised Chard defence who cut out any attempts to go through a tight backline.

For the visitors, several good through balls by Matt Howell and Ryan Parris could not produce the finish to add to the slender one goal lead which looked likely to be a final result until on 79 minutes when, from a free-kick, Jack Metcalf equalised.

Chard responded immediately with a perfectly-placed cross from the right flank by Max Westlake to Salter, who smashed the ball home for his second goal to put Chard back in pole position.

A late drive from Radstock was well covered by Chard’s ‘keeper Scott Well-Burr with the final whistle bringing to an end an entertaining game and a good result for Chard.

It was another good team performance, with the defence outstanding to help complete the double over their mid-Somerset opponents.

Chard: Scott Wells-Burr, Elliot Dyer, Oliver Pearson, Andrew Holmes, Kieran Bailey, Matthew Howell, Max Westlake, Ryan Parris, Christian Blango (Thomas Hargreave 75), Daniel Collins (Ryan Griffiths 86), Thomas Salter. Not used: Jacob Manley