League leaders Minehead had a mighty fright at relegation threatened Chard on Saturday before eventually returning home with all the points with two late goals. After some recent poor performances, Chard were in determined mood, and from the start retained possession well, refused to allow Minehead to settle on the ball, and tackled robustly. Despite this, and totally against the run of play, Chard fell behind from Minehead's first attack, but rather than heads dropping, Chard continued to pass well, and struck back after House and Mcdermott combined to enable the hard-working Forsyth to flick past the Minehead keeper. Chard then took the lead as Lyndsey Blackshaw used her pace and skill to run past defenders, her strength to hold off several challenges and admirable composure to lift the ball over the advancing keeper.
Minehead were clearly shaken, arguing with the umpires and even spectators, and were perhaps fortunate not to receive at least one yellow card. Much of their frustration was generated by their inability to free themselves from the tight marking of EJ Sterland and Katy Jones, ably supported by the battling Alice Turnock and Sophie Kelly. Even when Sterland had to go off the pitch after being hit in the head yet again by the ball, Minehead created very little, although Minehead were again able to equalise just before half time. The second half saw MInehead playing with greater fluency and showing, in patches, why they are top of the table. Nevertheless it was Chard who again took the lead after another nicely worked move left Jenny Forsyth in space to convert.
However Chard's recuring problem of panicking when the ball is played into their 'D' is their Achiles heel, and in the final quarter of the game Chard began to tire and conceded three goals which owed more to shaky defending than great attacking prowess. This is something the team will need to work hard on if they are to pick up the points needed to escape the drop, although
this performance, if not the result, bodes well for the future.