Toolstation Western League First Division

Chard Town 1, Bishops Lydeard 3

The Robins’ six match unbeaten run came to an end at Zembard Lane on Good Friday when they came off second best against a lively Bishops Lydeard.

Steve Friend and Ryan Parris spearheaded the Chard attack and James Boyland was welcomed back to the bench after being on the sidelines for a few weeks.

It began as a typical local derby with no quarter given by either side.

However, the visitors were first to pounce after 16 minutes when a ball from the right found its way via Douglas Camilo to Zac Ryder, who rifled a shot past Scott Wells-Burr into the Chard goal.

Steve Friend had a shot for the hosts after a super cross from Nathan Warren, but it was the visitors who continued looking more dangerous especially where Ryan Brereton was lurking on the right.

The hosts kept plugging away, though, and Liam Cleal and Max Westlake might have had more luck with a couple of efforts.

The Robins equalised on 51 minutes when Andy Holmes got up well to head in a Westlake corner.

Almost immediately Ryder nearly grazed the bar with a rasping shot at the other end and then, only five minutes after the equaliser, Chard fell behind again.

Substitute Luke Wandless received a pass from James Quick and made no mistake with his shot.

Chard upped their game a little with some better approach work.

Ben Haines snatched at the ball and his shot was just wide before Friend had a back-header which looped over the bar.

It was not going to be the Robins’ day, however, and the visitors sealed the win with a third goal after 72 minutes.

Unchallenged, substitute Harry Millar fired in an excellent shot from just inside the box.

They came close to getting a fourth when Kieran Bailey cleared desperately off the goal line and Wandless crashed a shot just over the bar.

Both teams are back in action on Monday – Chard make the short trip to Wincanton and Lydeard host Bishop Sutton.

Chard: Scott Wells-Burr, Elliot Dyer, Ollie Pearson, Andrew Holmes (Ryan Mason 80 mins), Kieran Bailey, Ben Haines (Sam Smith 76 mins), Max Westlake, Nathan Warren, Ryan Parris (James Boyland 68 mins), Steve Friend, Liam Cleal. Sub not used -Alex Cunnold (GK)