Verde Recreo Men’s League
Championship
Taunton Vale 4, Truro 1

TAUNTON Vale men’s 1sts played host to a strong Truro side who led them by three points going into Saturday’s game.

Having drawn and lost in the previous two weeks, Vale were eager to turn things around and show their quality.

The hosts dictated the pace of the game by controlling possession, staying patient and offering a threat.

After 10 minutes they broke the deadlock, with Danny Sopp firing home an upright reverse after Truro failed to clear the rebounds of a short corner.

Despite their dominance, midway through the first half Truro threw a dangerous aerial which led to a mix-up at the back, but goalkeeper Bayley Chatwin did enough to allow Martin Johnson to get back and clear the danger.

Vale kept pushing through, and just before half time they doubled their lead with a beautiful finish from Andy Taylor.

The home side started the second half as they had the first, strong and energetic, and a Champagne moment from Tom Evans, followed by some smart combination play, allowed time and space for David Pratt to fizz a shot past the keeper.

Truro were on the ropes now and Vale capitalised, as Max Dachsund-Beale played a dangerous shin killer for Ethan Williams to slot home the fourth.

Despite the score, the visitors continued to fight and were awarded a short corner after Dachsund-Beale mistimed a tackle and was shown a yellow card.

Chatwin was determined to earn his first clean sheet of the season and produced a fantastic save to keep the ball out of the top left-hand corner, only for Truro to score a late consolation goal.

Man of the match: Tom Evans

Vale leapfrog Truro into second place in the division, and this coming Saturday they travel to Warminster to play West Wilts (1.30pm start).

Southern 1
North Devon 2, Taunton Vale A 3

THE 2nd XI travelled to Barnstaple on Saturday to play North Devon, on level points in the league with just one goal between the teams.

Vale made a strong start, putting pressure on their opponents’ goal, and were soon rewarded for the efforts.

Steven Rybaruk turned over the ball in midfield and passed to Adam Veitch, with only the keeper to beat, and he calmly put it between his legs.

The visitors continued to dominate the half and won a short corner which was converted by Veitch, into the bottom corner.

Veitch managed to put away another for his hat-trick just before half time, as a beautifully weighted ball through from Andy Stevenson picked him out at the top of the D for another one-on-one with the keeper, and Veitch neatly finished into the top left-hand corner, meaning that Vale led 3-0 at half time.

The away side knew that North Devon would come out fighting in the second half, and initially they managed to deal with the pressure well.

But then they were unfortunate to concede a penalty flick, which was neatly put away by the hosts.

Vale had a number of opportunities in the half but were unable to convert these.

North Devon continued to press high and pressure the Vale defence, and were rewarded by another goal late on in the half, but the visitors held on to win 3-2.

Man of the match: Adam Veitch

Central 1
Taunton Vale B 8, City of Bath A 1

VALE’s 3rd XI faced fellow strugglers City of Bath on Saturday, with both sides looking for their first points of the season.

The hosts started on the front foot and opened the scoring through a Richard Edwards penalty corner.

Fresh from his man of the match display the week before, Freddie Stevens doubled the lead with a deflection.

Sam Young, Mark Atterton and Matt Osmant all then scored as Vale raced into a 5-0 half-time lead.

The second half did not see Vale reach the heights of the first, but Colin Jewhurst picked up a couple of goals via a penalty corner strike and first-time finish.

Young then scored up his second, before Vale conceded a late consolation goal, from a penalty corner deflection.

Man of the match: Toby Berry

South East 1
Yeovil & Sh. A 2, Taunton Vale C 0

VALE C made the trip across Somerset to play Yeovil & Sherbourne A, in wet and windy conditions.

The away side started well and Ben McElroy had a couple of good shots that were thwarted by the Yeovil keeper, before the hosts scored to go into the break 1-0 up.

Vale pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half but were caught on the break and lost 2-0.

Man of the match: Matt Chandler

South East 2
Taunton Vale D 1, ECV Hornets B 3

THE Vikings took on an unbeaten Hornets team, and got off to a disastrous start, conceding inside the first minute after some loose passing.

An excellently executed goal by Stu Morling saw Vale draw level midway through the first half.

In the second period Hornets looked the stronger team and piled on the pressure.

Hornets finally took the lead, and wrapped it up with a third in the closing minutes.

Man of the match: Val Similien

***

TAUNTON Vale ladies 1sts made it two wins in two with a thumping 4-0 victory at Premier Division 1 strugglers Yate on Saturday. lifting themselves up to eighth.

This coming Saturday they host Firebrands (1.30pm).

In Saturday’s other matches, Vale 2nds lost 2-0 at home to Tavistock, the 3rd XI beat Yeovil & Sherborne 2nds 4-0, the 4ths were defeated 6-3 at Chard, the 5ths won 3-0 over Taunton Civil Service 2nds, and the 6th XI drew 0-0 at White Eagles 3rds.

Somerset County Gazette:

VICTORY: Julie Vale in action in Taunton Vale ladies 5ths' win over Civil Service 2nds. Pic: Steve Richardson

***

TAUNTON Civil Service ladies 1sts won their first league match of the season, 4-2 at home to Old Bristolians, on Saturday.

As for the CS men’s 1sts, they triumphed 3-1 at Chard A, while their 2nd XI were held 2-2 at home by Yeovil & Sherborne B.

***

West Clubs Women’s League
Sedgemoor Division 1
Minehead 10, White Eagles 2nds 1

MINEHEAD ladies 1sts cemented their position as league leaders with a convincing win at home to White Eagles 2nds on Saturday.

The hosts dominated possession from the start and many chances were created down the right, with Anne Balderstone-Dowds starting attacks and Hannah Sparks and Rachel Heaney providing the crosses.

At the same time Minehead’s defence, lead by Carol Matravers, picked off any loose balls from the opposition and set up wave after wave of attack.

A goalmouth scramble saw Minehead’s first attempt saved, but the constant pressure took its toll, with Denise Lancaster finally slotting a cross in to settle any nerves.

That was the opening of the floodgates and the start of Lancaster’s first hat-trick, and with Vicky Perkins creating all sorts of trouble for the defence the home side were scoring almost at will.

Four more goals from Lancaster, one from Zoey Cape and a tidy short corner from Annabel Cottrell saw Minehead 7-0 up at the break.

The visitors switched their tactics during the half-time break, and the first 10 minutes saw them compete well.

Stung into motion, Minehead’s attack was revitalised, and more goals followed from Cape and Lancaster.

Somewhat against the run of play, a swift set of passes saw White Eagles up the field and beating Minehead’s keeper for a consolation goal.

At the final whistle Minehead were able to celebrate a double hat-trick of superbly-taken goals for Lancaster, a hat-trick for Cape and a well-earned goal for Cottrell.

Minehead: Jan Weetch, Jess Koppa, Sue Garwood, Carol Matravers, Hannah Sparks, Rachel Heaney, Amy Tisshaw, Vicky Perkins, Zoey Cape, Denise Lancaster, Annabel Cottrell, Anne Balderstone-Dowds.

AR Computing player of the match: Denise Lancaster

This Saturday, Minehead go to Taunton Vale 4ths (10am); the 2nd XI travel to Sidmouth & Ottery 2nds (10.30am).