TAUNTON Vale ladies 1sts’ three-game winning run came to a shuddering halt on Saturday, as they lost 7-0 at Premier Division 1 leaders Team Bath Buccaneers.

Vale will look to bounce back away to fellow mid-table side Lydney this Saturday (11.30am start).

The ladies 2nd XI picked up their first win of the season, 2-0 at Plymouth Marjon 2nds, to climb off the bottom of the South Division table.

In Sedgemoor Division 1, Vale 3rds stay on the heels of leaders Minehead, after thrashing basement side Burnham-on-Sea 7-0, while the 4th XI drew 2-2 at home to Winscombe 2nds.

And both the 5ths and 6ths won their Sedgemoor Division 2 matches, 3-0 at ECVH 2nds and 1-0 at home to Weston-super-Mare 3rds, respectively.

Verde Recreo Championship

Taunton Vale 0, Cardiff & Met 4

VALE hosted Cardiff in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday with Vale looking to close the gap on their visitors.

Cardiff started brightly but Vale dug in before increasing their control of possession and territory.

With Vale in the ascendency, Cardiff had two players sin binned but Vale were unable to capitalise during this period with a combination of good defending and keeping thwarting them.

Early in the second half, Vale lost possession in a dangerous area and Cardiff capitalised well to take the lead.

Shortly after the first goal, Cardiff scored a second in similar circumstances which left Vale with a mountain to climb.

As Vale chased the game, more risks were taken and this played into the hands of Cardiff who exploited the space created to score their third and fourth goals and seal the game.

This was a painful loss for Vale, however, the score was flattering for the visitors.

Man of the match: Ivo Maxwell

Vale travel to lowly Firebrands on Saturday for a 3pm push back.

Central 1

Firebrands B 2, Taunton Vale B 5

VALE 3rds took on their counterparts from Firebrands and produced their best performance of the season to come away with their first away win.

With captain Paul Bottomley impressing in a new position of right back, Vale were looking dangerous on the break and went close to opening the scoring on a number of occasions.

The breakthrough came when Elliot Fouracre smashed a reverse stick strike into the bottom corner from George Hebditch’s pass.

Vale doubled their lead when Matt Osmant’s cross was deflected past his own keeper by a Brands defender.

Brands pulled a goal back just before half-time to leave things evenly poised.

The second half continued much as the first with both sides having opportunities to score. Vale took their opportunity first as Colin Jewhurst’s penalty corner found its way in via a deflection.

Freddie Stevens then capped another man of the match performance with a goal after a fine team move.

Firebrands then pulled a goal back through a penalty corner to leave Vale with a nervous last quarter with Stevens receiving a green card.

Vale weathered the storm with 10 men with Fouracre picking up his second with Vale back to a full complement.

South East 3

Minehead B 5, Taunton Vale E 2

TVHC men’s 6s suffered their first defeat of the season on a wet miserable day in Minehead.

The visitors found themselves 3-0 down inside half an hour to a strong well drilled home side.

Vale found their feet and grew into the game in the second half, a wicked defected own goal and a another from Joe Shepherd gave the final score some respectability on what was a bad day at the office.

MOTM - Madawa Wipulaguna.

Masters Over 45s Hockey Cup

Minehead Vets 0,

Redland Werey’s 6

MINEHEAD and friends’ mastery was put to the test by Redland Werey’s this week.

Werey’s played a skilful, fast-passing and determined game from the whistle.

Minehead held the home side to 0-0 for the first 20 minutes but then the defence was breached by an amazing strike and they fell 1-0 behind.

Minehead continued to hold the attacking might of the Bristol side, but eventually a second goal was scored, and by half time it was 4-0.

With inspiration at the interval from Debs Gemmell, the Minehead side managed to restrict the visitors to two goals in the second half.

Minehead can hold their heads up high after two good performances in their first ever attempt in this Masters competition.

The team give thanks to the friends from Yeovil & Sherborne, Bridgwater, Teign, Exe and Sidmouth & Ottery.