This was a see saw game, Chard leading twice but having to settle for a draw despite creating more goal scoring chances than their Plymouth based hosts.

The absence of several of last week’s team meant opportunities for some of the club’s up and coming youngsters including Fraser Lewis, Harry Felgate and Matt Edmunds who all acquitted themselves well. In goal, Chard were pleased to welcome back Jon Stone who is now based in Plymouth.

After withstanding the home side’s initial onslaught, Chard began to ask questions of their defence, Dan Stone, Murray Wheaton and Harvey Dening followed by Jake Whitefield all playing their part in probing for a first goal. As it was, the breakthrough came courtesy of a penalty corner which was to prove to be Chard’s most potent weapon. After a goal line clearance from one effort, Dan Stone hit the target, his powerful flick being deflected into the net off a defender’s stick.

This should have been the cue for Chard to take complete control. Instead, in the space of ten minutes, they were trailing 1-2, a weak clearance being punished for the equaliser and the ball falling kindly for PGSOB in a goalmouth melee for them to take the lead. With home confidence boosted, Chard now had to work hard to rediscover their own rhythm. Having been denied by PGSOB’s keeper save and clearance on the stroke of halftime, they were deservedly back on level terms early in the second half via another penalty corner. This time it was Gareth Eggle who found the slimmest of gaps between keeper and post to equalise. Midway through the half, Eggle repeated the trick to put Chard 3-2 ahead, this time firing across the keeper into the other corner.

Hopes of taking all the points were dashed when a pass threaded through the inside right channel split Chard’s defence. Jon Stone dashed from his line to smother the initial shot but the ball broke for PGSOB to score from the tight angle despite Dave Lury’s effort to keep out the follow up.

Some of the veteran members of the squad are playing with niggling injuries and at less than full fitness. They will no doubt be looking forward to the end of season to have time to fully recover. It would be good to sign off with a win in the season’s final fixture next Saturday at home to Minehead B.

Team: J Stone, M Edmunds, D Lury, T Goss, S Mahoney, H Dening, G Eggle, F Lewis, M Wheaton, H Felgate, D Stone. Subs: G Wheaton, J Whitefield