This was a tough return to league action for Chard against a stronger team than the one by whom they had been beaten back in October and they were ultimately undone by Sidmouth's two young forwards who shared between them the three goals which decided this fixture.

Goalkeeper Tony Millett was kept busy throughout and his timely interventions, well judged sliding blocks and reaction saves helped avoid a heavier defeat.

Chard were under pressure from early on but the visitors' wayward finishing on top of Millett's heroics prevented a breakthrough until the 22nd minute when, in a goalmouth melee, a shot deflected off Steve Mahoney's foot saw the ball squirt up to beat the keeper at his near post. At the other end of the pitch, although good passes were put into the danger area from Chard's midfielders, there was a lack of sharpness in latching onto the ball and Sidmouth's keeper had relatively little to do, being well protected by his defence.

The second half saw a marked all round improvement from Chard which carried more threat to the visitors' D. With a single goal separating the sides, there was just a hint of anxiety in the previously unperturbed Sidmouth ranks. The turning point proved to be their keeper's two full stretch saves from Ian Wait penalty corner shots within two minutes of one another. Suddenly Chard ran out of legs in midfield, Sidmouth slowed the game and picked their passes and the only error Millett made all game in mistiming a dive was punished by the visitors' young number 33 finding the net for a second time on the hour. Five minutes later, another slick passing move cut open Chard's weary defence for goal number three.

Thanks to umpires Katie Fear and Trevor Goss.