GOCREA8 Championship

Taunton Vale A 1, Wotton-u-Edge 2

THE men’s 2nd team faced tough opposition last Saturday, hosting top of the table Wotton-under-Edge.

With Vale rooted to the bottom, it was going to be a tough ask to get a result.

Wotton started better, but were thwarted by in-form Vale goalkeeper Dickie Smith.

As the half progressed, Vale had greater possession and were rewarded with a short corner midway through the first period, converted by skipper Ben Hembrow to give them a 1-0 lead.

Wotton quickly replied from a short corner at the other end, followed by a second scrappy goal, which gave them a 2-1 advantage going into the break.

Vale had a great chance to grab a point with 10 minutes left when Max Beale created a chance for skipper Hembrow, one-on-one with the keeper, but his effort went wide.

The hosts put in a much improved display from the previous week at Bath, and can take the positives into the rest of the season.

GOCREA8 Central 1

Wootton Bassett 1, Taunton Vale B 4

VALE men’s 3rds travelled up to Wootton Bassett, and put in a superb display.

A hat-trick from striker Colin Jewhurst, and another from midfield dynamo Tom Tridgell, gave Vale a well-deserved 4-1 win, which moves them up to sixth in the Central 1 standings.

GOCREA8 Southern 2

Taunton Vale C 0, Penzance 3

THIS match for second-bottom Vale C versus Penzance (who sit third in the table), was a real step forward for the team in terms of their positive play.

A 3-0 defeat did not do justice to the squad, who played with real confidence.

Peter Widdon and Tom Carpenter had strong games down the right, Joe Shepherd and Ivo Maxwell worked tirelessly, and Andy Criddle had a superb game in goal, winning a number of one-on-ones to keep out further Penzance goals.

GOCREA8 South East 2

ECV Hornets B 2, Taunton Vale 3

THE 5th XI travelled to Exeter to play EVC Hornets 3rds, on the back of two straight wins which had put them within touching distance of mid-table safety.

Vale started well, and the pressure paid off when Derek Truman scored, sweeping in a cross at the back post.

Defensively Vale looked comfortable, but conceded an unfortunate goal late in the first half to go in level.

The second half saw the opposition have more of the ball, and they scored their second early on.

But Taunton did not give up, and better pressure on the opposition led to a super equaliser by James Waterman.

Truman then scored his second, a near replica of his first, and Vale won 3-2 to rise to seventh place in the table, two points off Minehead B in sixth.