Verde Recreo Men's League
Championship
Taunton Vale 5, Plymouth Uni 1

TAUNTON Vale men's 1sts and Plymouth exchanged blows early on with both teams keen to assert their dominance from the off.

Vale soon found their mojo and a well-played ball into the opposition D found its way to Karl Trunks; with Plymouth too slow to react, he powered the ball home.

With Vale in the ascendancy, Ethan Williams was once again on hand to double the home side’s advantage.

Soon afterwards, the visitors clawed one back through their pacey forward, who rounded the advancing Bayley Chatwin and finished well.

Vale scored a third through first team coach Elliot Foweraker, latching on to a beautiful tomahawk from Karl Trunks.

Goal number four saw Liam Pigden on the end of another quality attacking move and goal number five was one of their finest goals of the season with Rich Jenkin, Max Beale, Ross Hardwick and Liam Pigden combining to set up Sam Young, who finished well under pressure.

Soon afterwards, Young turned from hero to villain as he was shown a second yellow card for an over-zealous challenge.

Despite finishing the game with 10 men, Vale were able to maintain their lead and their promotion push.

Man of the match: Rich Jenkin

Southern 1
Dart 0, Taunton Vale A 1

TAUNTON Vale travelled to Totnes to face Dart with two points between the teams - a must-win game in the eyes of the Vale.

They controlled the tempo of the game well, putting the Dart goal under pressure but to no avail, the home keeper having a tremendous game.

Dart also had opportunities to take the lead but some outstanding defensive work from the back four of Rich Edwards, Dan Rogers, Ed Eminson and Bertie Lupton kept the scores level to half time.

Vale came out determined to take control of the game and, following a number of short corners, Vale were able to convert through Jonty Lawford neatly slotting a goal in the bottom left corner.

An outstanding team effort in tough conditions puts Vale 2nds at the top of the league.

Man of the match: Henry Ormrod

Central 1
Taunton Vale B 3, Somerset Gryphons 2

VALE 3rds earned their first points of 2019 with a hard fought victory.

They were indebted to goalkeeper Oscar Smith who produced a string of superb saves in the first half to keep Gryphons at bay. As the half wore on, Vale looked dangerous on the break and took the lead through Will Venn.

The second half saw Vale double their lead with Kyle Wheaton’s smart deflection.

Another onslaught from Gryphons ensued and, despite Smith’s heroics, Gryphons scored two goals through penalty corner deflections.

Vale pressed forward looking for a winner and Colin Jewhurst delivered through a penalty corner.

South East 2
North Devon A 7, Taunton Vale D 2

VALE took on top-of-the-table North Devon to test their credentials as potential promotion candidates.

They made a disastrous start, conceding twice inside the first 10 minutes, as North Devon demonstrated why they are the league’s frontrunners.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure and Vale were repeatedly undone by the youthful vigour of their opponents who led 4-0 at the break.

The second half was a marked improvement for Vale: Mark James scored shortly after the restart but North Devon ran in three more goals before James Waterman added a second for Vale.

Vale next take on Yeovil & Sherborne B.

Man of the Match: Edd Waterman

South East 3
Taunton Vale E 2, Minehead B 1

VALE regained the lead of South East 3 in a hard-fought encounter against Minehead.

The visitors took the lead through a smartly-taken reverse hit and dominated the early exchanges.

The home side equalised on the breakaway, brilliant work from Tom Holloway on the right flank, enabling Tom White to drive into the D and smash home.

Soon after, the home side were award a penalty flick, Hector Innes calmly stepped up and dispatched to give Vale the lead.

The second half was a sea of cards as indiscipline cost both teams and they both struggled to keep a full quota on the pitch.

Man of the match: Tom White

***

West Clubs Women’s League
Central Division
Bridgwater Ladies 3, Taunton CS 4

TAUNTON Civil Service Ladies almost let three vital points slip as the home side mounted a spirited fightback.

The visitors were 3-0 up just 20 minutes into the game but Bridgwater were not finished in this relegation dogfight.

They hit back with determination to level before half-time with three lifted shots - one from Sapphy Reed-Yang and two from their player of the match, Willow Hobbs.

After the break it was end-to-end stuff as the teams battled for supremacy.

Bridgwater had two goals disallowed but Civil Service hit the winning goal with just minutes remaining.

***

West Clubs Women’s League
Sedgemoor Division 1
Taunton Vale 3rds 0, Minehead 1

MINEHEAD ladies travelled just up the road on Saturday for the local derby match against Taunton Vale 3rds, who were just one point behind them at the top of the table.

The visitors knew this was going to be a tough game and needed to give 100 per cent to remain at the summit.

The first half saw both teams create chances but with some cracking saves from Minehead goalkeeper Jan Weetch the score remained 0-0.

The away team upped the tempo after the break, piling on the pressure, but still they couldn’t find a breakthrough.

Then, in the last minute of the game, Vicky Perkins stole the ball off the opposition, beat the defence and slotted the ball past the keeper for a dramatic winner.

Minehead: Jan Weetch, Sue Garwood, Anne Balderstone-Dowds, Jess Koppa, Carol Matravers, Hazel Binding, Hannah Sparks, Rachel Heaney, Laura Bennett, Zoey Cape, Dee Lancaster, Vicky Perkins.

Players of the match: Jan Weetch & Vicky Perkins; sponsor: Sparkhayes Porlock

Premier 1
Taunton Vale 1sts 2, Team Bath B 3

VALE took on lowly Team Bath and were beaten by the odd goal in five.

The defeat sees Vale left on the fringe of the relegation battle, with Bath edging to within four points.

Vale will need to be at their best on Saturday when they travel to second-placed Cheltenham.

South Division
Penzance 4, Taunton Vale 1

VALE remain stuck in the middle of a relegation battle after this defeat at Penzance on Saturday.

Victory for the home side sees them remain second-bottom but just one points behind Vale.

On Saturday, the Vale entertain mid-table Bude.