TAUNTON Vale Men’s 1st XI took six points from their crucial ‘double header’ weekend to lift themselves into mid-table in the GoCrea8 Premiership.

GoCrea8 Premiership
Taunton Vale 1, Cardiff Met 0

IN the first of two games for Vale, they welcomed Cardiff Met for a Friday night under the floodlights and enjoyed great support from the home crowd, with more than 100 in attendance.

Cardiff have had a successful season so far and sit second in the table so Vale knew it would be a tough contest.

The game was a fiercely tight contest as both teams defended solidly and counter-attacked well.

Jesse Mooney was the match winner with his first goal for Taunton Vale 1sts, after a calm assist from Nathan Dyte.

Both keepers produced some fine saves, and David House received man of the match for his brilliant tackles to preserve Vale’s clean sheet.

It was a superb result for Vale, the quality of the teams being a fine advertisement for hockey on a Friday night.

GoCrea8 Premiership
Team Bath 2, Taunton Vale 3

VALE travelled with a bare 11 on Sunday, after some late injury drop-outs.

With a fierce gale behind Vale, they started well and converted their first short corner through David Gibson.

Vale continued to press, with James Lineham leading the front line superbly, but the Bath keeper was on form.

The hosts equalised with their only corner in the first half, a decent drag flick making it 1-1 at half time.

Bath then came out of the blocks fast after the break, using the wind to their advantage, but superb work from defender Sam Whitefield kept them at bay.

After soaking up the pressure Vale began to create chances and from the first corner of the second half Gibson converted through the keeper’s legs.

With the game opening up Kiwi Lineham showed tremendous skill to get around the back of three defenders down the left and lift the ball over the keeper for a possible goal of the season.

Bath scored a consolation goal with two minutes to play, but Vale stood firm to ensure they took six points from their big weekend.

Somerset County Gazette:

TIGHT GAME: Shaun Matthews in action as Taunton Vale defeat Cardiff Met 1-0 under the floodlights. Pic: Steve Richardson

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GoCrea8 Championship
Cardiff Met 3rd XI 6, Taunton Vale A 0

VALE 2nds went to Cardiff Met 3rds to play on the Welsh national hockey ground, but with only a handful of regular players available for the trip.

Captain for the day Charlie Rutherford had them well organised, and they quickly settled into a high work rate.

Half time saw Vale two goals down after some well taken chances by Met.

The second half continued much the same with Tom Evans and Luca Maxwell defending heroically, though four more goals were conceded.

However, the spirit of the team was excellent, and junior player Ivo Maxwell enjoyed a fine debut.

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GoCrea8 Central 1
Taunton Vale B 3, Sidmouth & Ottery 4

THE men’s thirds were involved in a seven-goal thriller at home to Sidmouth & Ottery.

In an even first half Vale took the lead when Matt Osmant converted Mark House’s cross, but they failed to take further chances as the half went on.

Vale had the worst possible start to the second half with Sidmouth & Ottery claiming two goals in quick succession from penalty corners.

Vale quickly equalised through James Duder with a reverse stick finish, but they then conceded two more goals.

Colin Jewhurst pulled one back from a penalty corner but, despite the opposition being down to nine men for the last two minutes, Vale could not level, hitting the post with their closest effort.

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GoCrea8 Southern 2
Bridgwater 2nd XI 4, Taunton Vale C 0

VALE 4ths were on the wrong end of a 4-0 score at Bridgwater 2nds despite some patches of good, accurate play.

Vale were one down at the break after a tight first half, as they allowed possession to be turned over too often.

The back four of Jon Pettit, Andy Rogers, James Dakin and Arthur Whittle were particularly strong, but the team struggled to link further forward.

Heads went down in the middle of the second half and some easy goals were shipped, but the visitors rallied in the final 10 mins and young Tom Berry worked really well for the team, dropping deep to collect the ball and create some promising moves.