Toolstation Western League
First Division
Sherborne Town 2, Chard Town 5

TAOUFIK Ben-Salem hit four goals as Chard Town gained their first league win of the season at Sherborne on Wednesday night to haul themselves off the bottom of the First Division table.

It followed their first victory of the campaign at the weekend, 2-0 against Roman Glass St George in the Les Phillips Cup.

On Wednesday, a first half of terrific attacking football from both sides kept the crowd of 209 highly entertained.

It was the hosts who drew first blood, as Alexandru Stafie sent in a superb shot, palmed away for a corner by keeper Jon Hill, and from the resulting kick the same player powered a header into the Chard net after 10 minutes. 

Crucially, though, Chard were level only five minutes later, as Ben-Salem squirmed his way into the box, and after a neat one-two with Liam Cleal he slipped the ball past the Sherborne keeper. 

Just before the interval the visitors took hold of the game. 

On 39 minutes a looping cross from Andrew Holmes was superbly volleyed into the net by the effervescent Ben-Salem, and just three minutes later he tapped the ball home for a neat goal and his hat-trick.

Early into the second half more was to come from the captain with arguably his best goal of the night.

On 54 minutes he picked up the ball just beyond the halfway line, drew the Sherborne defence and unleashed an unstoppable shot that billowed the opponents' netting - worthy of a goal at the very top level.

The game quietened down a little but in time added on, Dave Smith pulled a goal back for the home side.

Yet this still left time for Chard to have the last word, as Max Westlake's fine strike found the corner of the net.

Jon Hill, Luke Jackson (Dave Duarte 69), Ben Haines, Andy Holmes, Nick Jacobs, Kieran Bailey, Max Westlake, Matt Howell, Taoufik Ben-Salem (Steve Friend 90), Brad Miles, Liam Cleal (Scott Jakeman 75).

Chard now sit 15th in the standings, with five points from six games.

This coming Saturday sees the Robins travel to Oldland Abbotonians, who are currently third in the table, for a 3pm kick-off.