GoCrea8 Premiership
Taunton Vale 1, Truro 2

VALE’S league season resumed with a home fixture against Truro.

Despite starting the game well, some lapses of concentration handed Truro a couple of early short corners.

Debutant Miles Cave made a number of good saves, but Truro eventually made their corners count with a well-taken effort into the bottom corner.

Vale continued to play excellent hockey and this led to the equaliser from Liam Pigden, slotting home after some tidy work by striker Sam Young.

The second half started as the first had ended, with Vale continuing to pressurise the Truro back line.

Unfortunately Vale could not find a goal and, to rub salt in the wound, Truro scored during a rare foray into the Vale half with just five minutes left.

This was a much improved display from Vale, who must take the positives into their remaining fixtures as they battle to avoid Premiership relegation.

This Saturday they travel to fifth-placed University of Exeter A (1.30pm).

GoCrea8 Conference South
Teign 5, Taunton Vale A 0

VALE 2nds travelled to Teignmouth, who took an early lead from a short corner.

Vale spent most of the half with the majority of the possession and territory but were unable to convert, and Teign made them pay with a goal on the counter attack.

The visitors started the second half as they had finished the first, putting pressure on the Teign goal, but they were twice caught on the counter.

Teign scored another from a penalty flick leaving the final score 5-0 – a harsh reflection on how the game had gone, but a lesson in clinical finishing – and on Saturday Vale host Duchy (1.30pm).

GoCrea8 Central 1
Chippenham 7, Taunton Vale B 0

THE men’s 3rd XI went to second-placed Chippenham with a depleted side.

Despite conceding an early goal, Vale worked hard and played some great counter-attacking hockey.

But they conceded two more goals before half time, despite heroics from goalkeeper Brian Louis, and the second half was a similar affair with Vale defending stoically but Chippenham’s superior squad numbers helping them score four more.

Men of the match: Tom Tridgell and Charlie Axon

Vale B, ninth in the table, are at home to fourth-placed Westbury & UB A on Saturday (3pm).

GoCrea8 South East 1
Taunton Vale C 2, North Devon A 0

EARLY exchanges were quite even, with both sides creating chances on goal, but it was Vale who scored first, through an excellent assist by Ned Aspden, which was finished well by Richard Stock.

The hosts remained in control for most of the first half, but the visitors were dangerous on the counter and it took resilient defending from Andy Rogers and James Dakin to maintain the lead.

North Devon came back strongly after the break, but Vale were still very dangerous with the ball and a stylish breakaway resulted in another cool finish from Stock to make it 2-0.

This was a welcome result for Vale as wins were hard to come by prior to Christmas.

Aspden was man of the match for his fine assist and overall ball retention.

This coming Saturday, eighth-placed Vale go to Minehead A, who sit ninth (1.30pm).

GoCrea8 South East 2
Taunton Vale D 2, West Dorset A 2

THE ‘Vikings’ produced a superb team performance and were unlucky not to take all the points against West Dorset.

Vale had all the early play and took the lead after smart work down the right flank from James Waterman, who centred to his brother Ed to dispatch from close range.

The hosts pressed hard to extend their lead but were caught with a sucker punch as West Dorset equalised on the breakaway.

The visitors then sparked into life and Vale were indebted to young goalkeeper Josh Baker, who made a fantastic reaction save to keep it at 1-1 at half-time.

West Dorset took the lead after the break with an unstoppable strike into the top corner, but Vale pressed hard and deservedly restored parity though Roland Zwarteveen’s shot which wrong-footed the keeper.

The Vikings had chances to win the match but had to settle for a point.

Men of the match: Jon Pettitt and Harry Cooper.

Vale, who lie 11th, are away to seventh-placed Sidmouth & Ottery B on Saturday (2pm).

***

TAUNTON Civil Service men’s 1sts had a bad day at the office, losing 12-0 at Central 2 leaders Royal Wootton Bassett.

The 2nd XI fared much better, winning 4-3 against Chard B in South East 2.

***

TAUNTON Vale ladies 1sts gave a good account of themselves away to fourth-placed Bristol University on Saturday, but lost 2-1 to sit seventh in Premier Division 1.

Vale 3rds picked up a good point at home to Firebrands 3rds in the Central Division, while in the South Division the 2nd XI lost out 1-0 to visitors White Eagles 3rds.

The 4ths came back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to claim a handy point from a 3-3 draw at Burnham-on-Sea in Sedgemoor Division 1, which keeps them ahead of their opponents in the table.

And the 5th XI drew 1-1 with Winscombe 4ths, which maintains the one-point gap between the sides in Sedgemoor 2.

***

TAUNTON Civil Service ladies 1sts were held 4-4 at ECVH, but the point takes them second in Sedgemoor 1.

The CS ladies 2nds drew 0-0 at home to ECVH 2nds.