Toolstation Western League

Bishops Lydeard 2, Chard Town 1

A TYPICALLY physical local derby at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday saw the home side collect the three points against visitors Chard Town with a late goal, writes Mike Froom.

In the first half with the slight slope in their favour, the hosts produced the best of the attacking play with the Chard defence holding out until some three minutes before the half-time whistle.

On 13 minutes, a Bishops Lydeard free-kick saw Chard’s keeper Jonathan Hill in action with a reaction save and a further effort from the home side minutes later well over the bar.

For their part, Chard were awarded a free-kick on 20 minutes and a cross by Luke Jackson across the face of the goal was pushed away for a corner.

Play continued at a fast pace littered with free-kicks and missed chances.

A good move down the left flank on 34 minutes by the lively Bishops Lydeard front runners again saw the ball well over the bar.

However, the opening goal for the hosts came on 37 minutes when a Charlie Wilson cross from the right corner saw the ball headed home from close range by ex-Chard player Andy Butler.

The second half saw Chard have the better of the play with James Boyland on for Shaun Wells-Burr and he immediately produced a good run down the right flank.

Following a crunching foul on Ryan Mason on 62 minutes, which surprisingly went unpunished, Steve Friend was replaced by Taoufik Ben-Salem on 65 minutes.

Together with Boyland, the Chard captain, back after some six weeks, the visitors produced more attacking options with a chance on 70 minutes just over the bar from Boyland.

A free-kick minutes later saw a penalty awarded to Chard for a push in a crowded area with Luke Jackson hammering home the ball past home keeper Nathan Whatley.

A further chance fell to Jackson on 75 minutes and a shot from Boyland flashed just wide.

Chard looked to have scored a second goal when Ben-Salem had the ball in the net but this was disallowed for an infringement.

A long ball down the left by Bishops Lydeard saw the ball crossed into the Chard area and open up the defence for Charlie Wilson on the far post to tap the ball home and seal the three points.

Chard: Jonathan Hill, Shaun Wells-Burr, Ryan Mason, Andrew Holmes, Kieran Bailey, Jack Dicker, Patrick Golden, Luke Jackson, Scott Martin, Stephen Friend, Bradley Miles. Subs: James Boyland (for Shaun Wells-Burr 48 mins), Taoufik Ben-Salem (for Stephen Friend 65 mins), Jake Wolfe (for Scott Martin 84mins).