A HAT-TRICK by Sam Young helped a depleted Taunton Vale to a 4-1 victory over Truro in the Davis Wood league’s Premiership on Saturday.

Vale only had seven players available from the winning squad of 16 a week earlier but demonstrated their strength in depth.

Taunton gave a debut to 15-year-old Tom Hawthorne, and welcomed back Ross Hardwick, Oscar Harrington, Sam Young and veteran David House.

Vale started extremely well, moving the ball swiftly and crisply.

Truro’s lack of quality showed in the final quarter as the Vale defenders picked the ball off the Truro strikers with ease.

A counter-attack led by Richard Edwards provided a chance for Will Abell to open the scoring which he duly took.

A second goal was claimed by Young after neatly tucking in a cross from the left.

Early in the second half a Vale mix-up led to a goal from Truro but this, if anything, spurred Taunton on.

And a remarkable full-pitch run from Martin Johnson down the left provided Young with his second.

Young completed his hat-trick within minutes and Vale comfortably controlled the remainder of the game.

Man-of-the-match went to newcomer Hawthorne who dominated the right side of the pitch.

Taunton travel to Bath University on Saturday to face mid-table Bath Buccaneers.

The team’s final home game is on March 14 at 7pm at TVSC against Exeter University.

n VALE A achieved a hard-fought victory against Bridgwater 1sts who were looking to secure their dreams of promotion from Conference South into the Championship (see the Big Match report on previous page).

n Vale B, fielding a much-weakened team, lost their unbeaten record, with a 2-0 defeat at Yeovil & Sherborne 2nds South East 1.

n VALE C took on Taunton Civil Service 1sts in the return fixture of a classic derby, also in South East 1.

Earlier in the season Vale drew 3-3 and this time round they were keen to better the score.

Things didn’t start well for Vale and in typical fourth team style they went down a goal early on.

Despite playing the better hockey and applying lots of pressure Vale couldn’t equalise in the first half.

The second half was a tight affair with both sides having opportunities to score but failing to convert.

In a nail-biting last ten minutes Vale – through some lovely passing play, and a lovely Jon Pike run down the base line – set up Rich Stock in at the back post for an equaliser. With the pressure now placed firmly on Civil Service the tide began to change.

Vale continued passing the ball well and just before the final whistle Stock scored the winner.

The match was played with good intensity and while things occasionally got heated it was played in good spirits. Both teams should be commended for their intensity, application and discipline.

n VALE D followed up a 9-0 victory over Sidmouth and Ottery 5ths with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the the opposition’s fourth team in South East 2.

Nick Vigar put Vale 1-0 up from a penalty corner, seconds before the end of the first half but Sidmouth hit back twice in the second period.

n VALE Ladies 4ths lost 3-0 away to Weston 1sts after a physical and highly competitive game in Sedgemoor Division 1.

Weston went in 1-0 up at half time and that would have been a fair final result.

However with interesting twists and turns in the game including a flick being awarded Weston won 3 - 0.

Player of the match was goalkeeper Chantelle Laurence. She displayed real skill and determination and made numerous exciting and crucial saves.

Laurence literally threw herself into the game in spite of playing with a newly-broken toe.

Vale: C. Laurence, A. Dowds, J. Reynolds, T. Stone, E. Balderstone (Capt.), C. Govier, V. Tindall, R. Weeks, R. McDonagh, H. Donovan, E. Slawin, A. Kyle, J. Grout.

n Vale Ladies 3rds enjoyed a thumping 8-0 win over Bridgwater 2nds in Sedgmoor Division 1.

Jenny Cooling gave Vale the lead after a well worked short corner.

Further goals from Fiona Davies, Sam King, Clare Hayse – after some brilliant individual skill – and Tany a Dicks gave Vale a 5-0 half-time lead.

In the second period King completed her hat-trick while Davis grabbed her second.

Vale created plenty of opportunities to increase the score but the scored was kept within bounds thanks to an impressive display by the Bridgwater keeper.