This was always going to be a tough game against the top of the table side, but Chard's bare eleven gave a good account of themselves, particularly in the second half and can take pride in how well they competed throughout.

The home side's tactic of playing one man up and then attacking in depth from midfield gave Chard's defence a busy time from the early minutes of the first half. It wasn't long before keeper Tony Millett was called into action with the first of his saves and clearances. At left back, Elliot Webb coped exceptionally well with having to chop and change who he was marking while, on the other side of the pitch, a still not fully fit Paul Bradshaw was equally competitive both defensively and when helping launch attacks down the right wing. The centre back pairing of Paul Sainsbury and Steve Mahoney stuck gamely to the task of trying to smother Sidmouth & Ottery's lively forwards in and around the D, ably assisted by Alan Cheffey and Ben Berryman from centre midfield.

It took until the middle of the first half for the home side to break Chard's resistance after mounting pressure from a string of penalty corners and they doubled their advantage as the half drew to a close. Chard had not been without their own scoring chances but Sidmouth were well worth their interval lead.

Captain Gary Wheaton stressed the need to be strong and positive in his half time talk and the team responded with a greater share of possession and more of the play in Sidmouth's half. Berryman and Wheaton were particularly productive with a succession of searching passes into the D for Alfie Baker- Pike and Nathan Bradshaw to feed on while, on the right wing, Noah Green worked well off Paul Bradshaw's passes. A well taken third goal from a snap shot just inside the D beating Millett at his near post did not deflate Chard and they earned reward for their attacking endeavours in the 57th minute. Cheffey's penalty corner injection picked out Berryman who deliberately fired the ball wide of the goal to Green who coolly diverted it into the net. With their confidence boosted, Chard started to play their most expansive hockey, accurate passing and cross field moves causing Sidmouth some anxious moments during the closing stages of the game. They steadied the ship in the final few minutes and Chard had to settle for the one consolation goal.

Team: T Millett, E Webb, S Mahoney, P Sainsbury, P Bradshaw, G Wheaton (c), A Cheffey, B Berryman, N Green, A Baker-Pike, N Bradshaw.