A surprisingly bright and sunny Saturday set the scene at Holyrood, a welcome change after weeks of relentless rain. It was an exciting club derby as Chard Ladies Development side (2s) took on the league-leading Ladies 1s.

From the first whistle, the 1s showed why they sit at the top of the table, moving the ball quickly and making the most of their attacking opportunities. The final score line read 13–0 in favour of the 1s, but it doesn’t fully reflect the determination and spirit shown by the 2s throughout the match.

The goals were shared across the squad, with Katie leading the charge with six goals. Layla added four to the tally, while Kez, Char and Summer each contributed a goal apiece to round off an impressive attacking display.

Despite the scoreboard, the Development team can hold their heads high. They kept the pressure on from start to finish and worked tirelessly across the pitch. Standout performances came from defenders Kate and Frankie, who made the 1s work hard for every opportunity and put in a series of crucial tackles and interceptions. Goalkeeper Hannah also had an outstanding game, pulling off a number of superb saves to prevent the scoreline from climbing even higher.

Player of the Match honours for the 1s went to Layla for her clinical finishing and Min for her all-round impact and work rate. For the 2s, the award was shared between Kate and Frankie for their resolute defensive efforts.

A big thank you to umpires Gary Wheaton and Chris Long for officiating the game.

And finally, in true club spirit, Dick of the Day went to Gary Wheaton!