This first league encounter of the season between Thirds and Second teams produced an eight goal thriller, the Seconds grabbing a share of the spoils with a goal in the final minute.

The usual team line ups were dispensed with, so Gary Wheaton captained a 3rd XI packed with young talent and boosted by four players from Chard Firsts who had already played their own league game at Yeovil during the morning. By contrast, Rich Switzer found himself in charge of a mature team long on experience, but with a huge question mark hanging over them as regards stamina to compete with their youthful opponents. That question mark hung even more heavily just 10 minutes into the game, by which time the Thirds were two goals up, Noah Green tapping in from their first serious incursion into the Seconds' D and Isaac Parris reacting sharply to score when the ball fell to him in a goalmouth melee.

Youth remained firmly on the front foot for much of the first half, too many long passes by Seconds players being picked off by the likes of George Criddle and Oscar Wadey in the midfield. The Seconds' defence vitally proved more resolute and assured than in the opening minutes and had to as the majority of traffic was towards their goal. Ian Wait was at the heart of the Seconds' most creative play and, just once in a while, there was a glimmer of hope of a comeback. A trademark Wait dribble into the D set up a chance for makeshift centre forward Nigel Parris but he slid the ball just wide. Tom Eames was put through one on one with the keeper, but Nick Turner stood tall, made himself big and blocked Eames' attempt to flick the ball over him. Crucially for the Seconds, they did halve the deficit in the closing stages of the first half, Wait having time and space to pick his spot after a penalty corner effort had been charged down.

A few positional changes by the Seconds at half time gave them better balance after the interval and they applied some early pressure on the Thirds' goal, winning a clutch of penalty corners. Steve Dare went closest to taking advantage of this, his full blooded goal bound shot being cleared off the line by Wheaton. The Thirds rode out this initial storm and, when they re-established a two goal lead, Steve Mahoney deflecting Noah Green's shot into the net, a Seconds' comeback seemed unlikely. That was until Dare fired home with an angled shot, like Wait taking his time and showing composure to pick his spot when the Thirds' defence failed to fully clear their lines. With their tails up, the veterans found something extra in the locker and put together one of their best passing moves of the game to cut through the defence, a Wait cross setting up Eames to make it three all.

With the clock ticking down, another surge from the Thirds earned them another penalty corner, Gary Wheaton hitting a shot which also deflected into the net, this time off the stick of the unfortunate Simon Green. Another penalty corner, another goal bound effort, this time Mahoney making amends for his earlier mistake, tipping the flick shot over the crossbar. Then came the final minute drama, Wait launching a defence splitting pass upfield, picking out Rich Jones who, in his one on one with Turner made no mistake, thus ensuring this pulsating contest finished with honours even.

Thanks also to umpires Claire Winter and Katie Fear.