GoCrea8 Premiership
Taunton Vale 0, Bristol Uni 6

IN front of a vociferous home support, Vale sought to nullify their opponents and played some good hockey. 

Nevertheless, some high quality attacking play and clinical finishing from the visitors saw them take a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time.

Vale showed more quality after the break and dominated possession, but they were not able to turn chances into goals, with player-coach Elliot Foweraker hitting the post. 

Bristol scored two late goals to complete victory.

Vale cannot afford to let this defeat detract from the rebuilding process they are going through following a high turnover of players from the previous season.

Man of the match: Max Beale

Vale have this coming weekend off.

Conference South
Exeter Uni C 3, Taunton Vale A 3

THE men’s 2nd XI built on the previous week’s first win of the season with a at third-placed Exeter University C.

Vale put pressure on the Exeter goal from the off and Andy Ford opened the scoring, only for the hosts to quickly equalise. 

The visitors went ahead again through Ben Rogers, yet a lapse in concentration meant it was 2-2 at half time.

Despite some free-flowing play from Vale after the break, the home side took the lead from a penalty corner. 

The visitors kept going though, and Ford netted to ensure Vale claimed a share of the points.

Man of the Match: Ivo Maxwell

This Saturday Vale host seventh-placed PGSOB (3pm).

Central 1
Mid Somerset 3, Taunton Vale B 4

VALE 3rds pulled off one of their best results of the season by winning at third-placed Mid Somerset. 

The away side fell behind to a deflected goal, but Colin Jewhurst equalised from a Tom Howard cross. 

Jewhurst then fired home on the reverse stick to put Vale 2-1 up, a lead preserved through to half time by Mark Aspden’s goal-line clearance from a penalty corner.

The second half continued at a frantic pace, with Eaton-Jones deflecting in Jewhurst’s strike from a penalty corner to make it 3-1. 

Mid Somerset pulled one back almost immediately, but Jewhurst claimed his hat-trick with an unstoppable strike from a penalty corner. 

The visitors had a nervy last few minutes after another goal for the home side, but they held firm..

Man of the Match: Tom Howard, Colin Jewhurst

Vale host bottom side Team Bath D on Saturday (1.30pm).

South East 1
Taunton Vale C 2, Yeovil and Sherborne A 1

THE men’s 4ths hosted Yeovil and Sherborne A, looking to avenge their 8-0 defeat in the reverse fixture. 

Chances were hard to come by for both sides, until Yeovil broke the deadlock after 15 minutes. 

Vale continued to play, though, and their persistence was rewarded after around 25 minutes, when a fine move ended with Ashlee Barclay scoring at the back post. 

The half-time score was 1-1 and the game was in the balance.

The second half was a similar affair, with the hosts having plenty of possession and Yeovil counter-attacking. 

What proved to be the winner came after Arthur Whittle was fouled in the D, resulting in a penalty stroke, which was neatly dispatched by centre-back Andy Rogers. 

Man of the match: Ashlee Barclay

Eighth in the table, Vale will look to close in further on mid-table as they go to Isca D this Saturday (1.30pm).

South East 2
Minehead B 0, Taunton Vale D 0

THE Vikings travelled away to a rather wet and blustery Minehead for what turned out to be an even encounter. 

Vale’s frustration at the lack of a breakthrough manifested itself in ill-discipline, and two players were shown green cards. 

Despite that, the visitors defended well, so the keeper only touched the ball three times in the whole match. 

Eventually the rain stopped, but neither side could find a goal. 

This Saturday the ninth-placed Vikings host Chard A, who are second, at Gipsy Lane (4.30pm).

TAUNTON Vale Ladies lost 1-0 at Newent in the West Clubs Women’s League Premiership, while the 5ths won 4-2 at home to Weston-super-Mare.

None of the ladies teams are in action over this coming weekend.