Verde Recreo Men’s League
Championship
Taunton Vale 3, Cheltenham 1

TAUNTON Vale men’s 1sts began 2019 with an important win that keeps them in the Championship title race.

Mid-table Cheltenham were the visitors to Gipsy Lane on Saturday, and they were seen off 3-1, as Tom Evans, Sam Young and Ross Hardwick goals won the points for the home side.

The result keeps Vale within five points of leaders Cardiff & Met A, and three points ahead of third-placed Truro.

This coming Saturday sees them travel to take on 10th-placed City of Bath (11.30am start).

Southern 1
University of Exeter E 3, Taunton Vale A 3

THE men’s 2nds are two points off table-topping Sidmouth & Ottery after taking a point away to fifth-placed University of Exeter E on Saturday.

The six goals in the game were evenly shared, and Vale are well placed in what is shaping up to be a close promotion chase.

Vale are at home to ninth-placed Torbay on Saturday (noon).

Central 1
Taunton Vale B 2, Royal Wootton Bassett 5

VALE B’s struggles in Central 1 continued into the new year, as the second-bottom side lost 5-2 at home to mid-table Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday.

Things don’t get any easier this weekend either, as they travel to face Old Bristolians, who are joint top of the division with Bridgwater (12.30pm).

Central 2
North Wilts 1, Minehead 4

MINEHEAD men’s 1sts kept hold of seventh spot in the Central 2 standings with an impressive 4-1 win away to ninth-placed North Wilts on Saturday.

They are just three points off fourth and eight off second, so the Minehead boys will look to push upwards in this second half of the season.

Next up is a home match with South Glos, who currently sit third in the table (1.30pm).

South East 1
Minehead A 0, Taunton Civil Service 7

IT was a very different outcome from Minehead’s 2nd XI, as they were thumped 7-0 at home by promotion-chasing Taunton Civil Service.

Civil Service showed why they are in second spot with this comprehensive victory over the side currently sitting second from bottom.

This Saturday (2pm) Minehead A visit basement club Chard A – who are without a point all season – while Civil Service are at Taunton Vale C (3pm).

South East 1
Tiverton 0, Taunton Vale C 1

THE Vale men’s 4ths picked up three invaluable points away to top-half side Tiverton.

Having been third from bottom, Vale have shot up two places to eighth, and they’re now only three points off a place in the top half of the table.

It’s derby day for the team next, with the tough prospect of a home match against Civil Service.

South East 2
Taunton Civil Service A v Isca E

TAUNTON Civil Service men’s 2nds had been scheduled to kick off 2019 with a home match against Isca E, but the result remains outstanding.

That leaves Civil Service in sixth position, with 18 points, just ahead of seventh-placed Isca on 17, the same number of points as Chard B in what is a closely-compacted mid-table scrap.

This coming Saturday, Civil Service host second-placed ECV Hornets B (1.30pm start).

South East 2
Bridgwater C 0, Taunton Vale D 8

TAUNTON Vale’s men’s 5ths ran riot away to Bridgwater 4th XI last Saturday, putting eight goals past the home defence.

Three of those were scored by James Waterman, with Edd Waterman (2), Freddie Wolfenden (2) and Mariusz Mankau also on target.

It leaves them in third place, level with ECV Hornets B and three points shy of league leaders North Devon A.

Vale are at home to fourth-placed West Dorset A – who are just two points behind them in the table – on Saturday (4.30pm).

South East 3
Minehead B 4, Bridgwater D 0

MINEHEAD’s 3rd XI were too strong for visiting Bridgwater D on Saturday, winning by a 4-0 margin.

The three points takes them to the summit of the table going into this weekend’s action.

Next up, Minehead entertain fourth-placed East Devon D (3pm).

Taunton Vale E, who were without a game last weekend, are just one point behind Minehead, with a game in hand.

This Saturday they head to bottom side Ashmoor C, who have only picked up one win so far this season (11.30am).