Minehead suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down by six wickets away to promoted Chard in the West of England League Bristol and Somerset Division on Saturday.

Buoyed from the previous week’s victory at Midsomer Norton, Minehead captain Roo Woodward won the toss and elected to bat on a dry, dusty wicket.

Opening pair Tom Wright and Ben Ackland began brightly before a lifting ball saw Wright caught behind for 14.

From there, Ackland anchored the innings with a solid 69 but was unable to find support from a Minehead upper and middle batting order that lacked intent and intensity.

Wickets fell at regular intervals for the rest of the innings with no one batsman able to become established and take control of some tight bowling from Chard bowlers Phillip Smith (15-2-49-1) and Jon Dalwood (15-4-30-3).

The innings was kept in check by a strong ground fielding effort from Chard and stuttered to the 180 mark on a deck that was flattening out as the day went on.

In reply, a chirp-filled Minehead got off to the strongest start imaginable having Chard in trouble at 20-3 with the opening bowlers getting on top early.

However, that’s as good as it got for Minehead as Chard rebuilt with a counter attacking and resistance-breaking partnerhip between Scott Wells-Burr (81) and Dalwood (57).

Where Mineheads shots seemed to find fieldsman, Chard’s found the boundary with ease as heads dropped and half chances were put down in the field.

Wells-Burr was dismissed and a late glimmer of hope was offered to Minehead but was soon put to bed as Chard easily ran down the total with eight overs and six wickets to spare.

Minehead are home to Old Bristolians Westbury on Saturday.