An experienced Taunton Vale squad proved too strong for Chard's mixture of youth and maturity in this third and final encounter between the sides for this season, Chard having won away by the odd goal in seven on the opening day and lost narrowly in the December fixture.
Defensive confusion gifted the visitors a 3rd minute goal with only their first venture into the Chard D and Vale capitalised on the confidence of this early advantage, twice going close to extending their lead within the first quarter hour, Luke Bradshaw's agility and reactions denying them on both occasions. Despite his heroics, Chard were two down after 20 minutes, Bradshaw's initial save being insufficient to keep out a follow up effort from close range.
Through the midfield industriousness of Flynn Bowie, George Parris, Arthur Handley and Callum Gilbert, Chard enjoyed territorial advantage as half time approached but still struggled to create clear cut goal scoring chances. Promising approach play by the likes of of Joel Handscombe, George Criddle and Isaac Parris tended to founder at the edge of Vale's D against a well organised defence.
A well taken third goal for Vale within a few minutes of the start of the second half effectively killed off the chances of a Chard comeback but the team's competitive spirit remained. Gary Wheaton was hugely influential in creating pressure on the visitors' D, with intelligent passes to allow Ollie Bartlett to send in a number of right wing crosses which tested the Vale defence. Wheaton himself came close to reducing the deficit with a rising shot from the edge of the D parried away by the keeper. As Vale began to tire, Chard's pressure yielded penalty corners but no luck in front of goal until after an initial shot by Wheaton was saved, the ball was bundled into the net by Criddle, a fitting reward for his efforts. As the clock ran down, Chard won a further penalty corner but were unable to convert the chance created into another goal.
Thanks to umpires : Hannah McGowen and Gareth Eggle
Squad: L Bradshaw, A Handley, A Cheffey, C Gilbert, F Bowie, O Bartlett, G Parris, G Wheaton, G Criddle, J Handscombe, I Parris, P Bartlett, S Mahoney