GoCrea8 Premiership
Wotton-under-Edge 2, Taunton Vale 2

VALE men went to mid-table Wotton having been relegated the week before, and handed debuts to Ivo Maxwell, Lewis Sparks and Liam Elliot.

After a bright start, Vale won a short corner and Martin Johnson powered a drag flick into the bottom corner. 

The visitors continued to have the run of the game but Wotton looked dangerous on the counter-attack and levelled when a cross snuck into the goal. 

Before half time, Vale won another short corner, and while the initial flick was saved, Ross Hardwick slotted in.

The away side continued to play well in the second half, but their lack of subs began to tell and Wotton equalised.

It was a display full of character from Vale and they will hope to add some strength in depth over the summer.

Vale round off their season away to Firebrands on Saturday (2pm start).

Conference South
Taunton Vale A 4, Tavistock 0 

VALE 2nds were determined to make amends for last week’s poor display.

Vale scored early on through Sam Young, and Paul Hawkins doubled the lead as he finished off a neat penalty corner routine.

After the break, Vale continued piling on the pressure and a second goal from Young gave them a comfortable lead.

Ben Rogers scored the final goal on the reverse for a victory which lifts them off the bottom of the table. 

Man of the match: Paul Hawkins

This Saturday they entertain Shepton Mallet (1.30pm).

Central 1
Bridgwater 3, Taunton Vale B 0 

VALE went to Bridgwater with a depleted side and struggled on a pitch which made it difficult to play flowing hockey. 

Despite keeper Martin Lawrence’s heroics, Vale were 2-0 down at half time.

The second half was a more even affair, but the hosts scored another and saw out the win.

Man of the match: Martin Lawrence

Vale host City of Bath A on Saturday (12.30pm).

South East 1 
Taunton Vale C 0, ECV Hornets A 7

IN their penultimate game of the season, Vale met a strong Hornets side and were overwhelmed.

Jerry Osborne performed well in defence, while man of the match was young Ned Aspden, who played with a maturity beyond his years in midfield.

They finish their season at Tiverton this Saturday (1.30pm). 

South East 2 
Taunton Vale D 5, Bridgwater C 2

THE Vikings produced one of their best performances of the season to blow away a high-flying Bridgwater team who had won the reverse fixture 6-0. 

They played some scintillating attacking hockey, with the young and experienced players linking seamlessly.

Goals from Ed Waterman (2), Jon Pike (2) and an outrageous reverse overhead tomahawk from Mark James gave the Vikings all three points, which should see them stay up. 

Their final match is at home to Sidmouth & Ottery C on Saturday (3pm).

TAUNTON Vale ladies 1sts came out on the right side of a five-goal affair away to Isca 2nds on Saturday.

Helen Nicholls (2) and Kitty Chapple scored in the visitors’ 3-2 win, which sees them stay sixth in the Premier Division 1 table.

This coming Saturday they host unbeaten league leaders Clifton Robinsons 2nds (11.30am start).

In the Central Division, the ladies 3rds slipped further towards relegation as they lost 4-0 at Taw Valley.

Bottom of the table, they need to pick up something from their double-header weekend, at home to Weston-super-Mare (Saturday, 10am) and away to Winscombe (Sunday, 10am).

The 2nd XI are close to securing survival in Southern 1, after a 1-0 win over second-bottom Okehampton, with Chrissi Curno scoring.

On Saturday they visit bottom side Exe 3rds (11am).

Vale 4ths remain in the thick of the relegation battle in Sedgemoor Division 1, after losing 6-1 at home to Minehead, while rivals Burnham-on-Sea and Winscombe 2nds both won.

This Saturday they go to table-topping Taunton Civil Service (noon).

And the ladies 5ths were undone by Sedgemoor Division 2 champions Chard, losing 4-1 at home.

They are away to Taw Valley 2nds on Saturday (11.30am).

TAUNTON Civil Service men’s 1sts’ survival hopes took a hit as they lost 3-0 at home to Team Bath Buccs E on Saturday.

It leaves them second-bottom in the Central 2 table, three points adrift of third-bottom Marlborough A.

This Saturday they will hope to pick up a result at home to fifth-placed Weston-super-Mare (1.30pm start), ahead of a key clash at Marlborough on April 7.

The men’s 2nd XI also lost, 7-1 away to Yeovil & Sherborne B, leaving them fifth in the South East 2 standings.

Their final match of the season is away to Minehead B on Saturday (noon).

The CS ladies 1sts also had a weekend to forget, losing 2-1 at Winscombe 2nds, who are battling to beat relegation.

CS remain top of Sedgemoor Division 1, but are now just three points ahead of both Minehead and Mid Somerset, ahead of this Saturday’s match at home to eighth-placed Taunton Vale 4ths (noon).

And CS ladies 2nds lost out 3-0 at home to fourth-placed Taw Valley 2nds, leaving them second from bottom in Sedgemoor Division 2.

They’ll be looking for a better result on Saturday, away to basement side Weston-super-Mare 3rds (11.30am), having won the reverse fixture 9-0.