Verde Recreo Men’s League
Championship
Taunton Vale 4, West Wilts 3

TAUNTON Vale men’s 1sts bounced back from the previous weekend’s defeat to edge past West Wilts at Gipsy Lane on Saturday.

Second in the table, Vale go to table-topping Cardiff & Met A this coming Saturday (noon start).

Southern 1
Okehampton 1, Taunton Vale A 3

LEAGUE leaders Vale A picked up another three points away to Okehampton on Saturday.

Both sides made positive starts, but the visitors went ahead courtesy of a penalty flick from Ethan Williams, after a short corner chance had hit a defender’s foot on the line.

Okehampton hit back on the counter-attack to equalise, making it 1-1 at half-time.

The second half was evenly-contested, but eventually Vale went back ahead with a neat deflection, and they added a third late on to seal it.

Man of the match: Angus Chapman

Central 1
Taunton Vale B 0, Bridgwater 7

THE 3rd XI suffered a heavy defeat at home to promotion-chasing neighbours Bridgwater on Saturday.

Goals from Will Pope (3), Todd Barrett, Sam Uminski, Paul Tilley and Duncan Morrish secured the points for Bridgwater, and leave Vale deep in relegation trouble.

South East 1
Chard A 0, Taunton Vale C 6

VALE 4ths were far too strong for bottom side Chard A, winning 6-0 in South Somerset.

It leaves Vale fifth in the table, well-poised for a solid mid-table finish with just three matches to go.

South East 2
Teign A 1, Taunton Vale D 3

THE 5th XI saw off top-half rivals Teign A to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Vale made a sluggish start, but goalkeeper Andy Criddle made several crucial saves, and James Waterman slotted in the opener on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors were much improved in the second half, laying siege to the Teign goal.

Oskar Hind and Dan Low struck to secure victory, and although the hosts pulled one back with five minutes to go, the result lifted Vale back into fourth place.

South East 3
Taunton Vale E 3, Ashmoor C 1

THE men’s 6ths are within touching distance of the title in their inaugural season, after coming from behind to beat Ashmoor.

Vale were frustrated by some inspired goalkeeping and then conceded against the run of play, but Tom White’s tidy finish restored parity.

Ross Smith’s smart reaction finish and a trademark Roland Zwarteveen smite wrapped up the win for the hosts.

Man of the match: Brian Louis

***

TAUNTON Vale ladies 1sts claimed victory in a must-win game on Saturday, to boost their chances of avoiding relegation from Premier Division 1.

Vale won 3-1 at second-bottom Bournemouth to lift themselves up to ninth, and put five points between themselves and their hosts.

With their last four matches all against top-half sides, Vale will be looking for maximum points at home to winless bottom side Yate this Saturday (1.30pm start).

The ladies 2nds remain locked in a relegation tussle involving five other teams in Southern 1, after a 2-0 loss to leaders Newquay.

Both Vale sides won in Sedgemoor Division 1 on Saturday, the 3rds 7-1 at Chard and the 4th XI at home to White Eagles 2nds, 3-1.

Sedgemoor Division 2 saw Vale 5ths beat Winscombe 4ths 3-1, and the 6ths lose 2-0 at Taw Valley 2nds.

***

TAUNTON Civil Service ladies 1sts lost 2-1 at home to mid-table rivals Weston-super-Mare in the Central Division, while their 2nds won 4-2 at White Eagles 3rds in Sedgemoor Division 2.

As for the Civil Service men’s sides, the 1st XI kept their pursuit of promotion on track with a 4-0 win at East Devon A in South East 1.

The 2nds also won, 3-1 at home to Sidmouth & Ottery B, to keep their own promotion hopes alive in South East 2.

***

IT was a Saturday of contrasts for Minehead’s men’s teams – the 1sts winning 2-1 at home to Keynsham to remain fifth in the Central 2 table.

The 2nd XI suffered a 12-0 hammering against South East 1 leaders ECV Hornets A.

***

Somerset County Gazette:

ON THE RUN: Minehead ladies were far too good for Burnham-on-Sea at the weekend. Pic: Steve Richardson

Sedgemoor Division 1
Minehead 13, Burnham-on-Sea 1

IT was lucky 13 for league leaders Minehead ladies on Saturday, as they hammered relegation-battling Burnham-on-Sea.

The hosts surged ahead by scoring six goals in the first half, despite in-form goalkeeper Jan Weetch 'having a moment’, kicking the ball outside the D and earning a yellow card.

This left the team one short and keeper-less, but they just continued the attacking onslaught, with much of the play in the attacking 23m zone.

Laura Bennett, Zoe Cape, Vicky Perkins, Hannah Sparks and Amy Tissau (2) all found the net before half-time.

Burnham hit back soon after the restart, with a goal reminiscent of a 1986 Maradona, but Minehead responded by scoring a further seven goals.

Perkins (3), Bennett, Dee Lancaster (2) and Sparks secured an impressive tally of 13 for the league leaders, who showed an equally impressive display of team cohesion on the pitch.

Minehead sparkle with the dominant powerhouses of Bennett and Rachel Heaney in the centre of midfield, with captain Perkins leading in style with her strong and incisive attacking play.

Minehead: Jan Weetch, Jess Koppa, Sue Garwood, Anne Balderstone-Dowds, Hannah Sparks, Amy Tissau, Rachel Heaney, Laura Bennett, Vicky Perkins (c), Dee Lancaster, Zoe Cape, Hannah Cornish.

Francis James player of the match: Laura Bennett

Next up for Minehead is an away match against bottom side White Eagles 2nds (11.30am start).