MINEHEAD Hockey Club Men’s 1st team travelled to Chard to conclude their rather chastening season in the hopes of finishing on a positive note. Expectations were somewhat tempered by the form of Chard who were unbeaten in plenty - and the result was a home comfortable victory for the South Somerset outfit. 

The game started well for Minehead, enjoying the lion’s share of possession and finding space between the midfield and back four of the home side. Unfortunately a couple of half chances went begging and a counter attack saw a Chard midfielder break into the D, end up in a tangle with a Minehead defender and a penalty-flick awarded. Keeper Bagg was given no chance in goal, the flick confidently despatched into the top corner. 

Unfortunately, from there on in the boiling weather combined with a limited bench in comparison with the home side (story of Minehead’s season) meant late in the half a flurry of Chard attacks led to further goals. Four goals down at half time without a reply flattered Chard to an extent but they had been more clinical and taken their chances, whereas this was not the case with the visitors. 

The second half was a scrappier affair with Minehead awarded a number of short corners which went unconverted. Some excellent saves by Adrian Bagg in goal and some woeful Chard finishing kept the score somewhat respectable but tiring Minehead legs saw the game finish 6-0 to the home team. 

A tough year sees Minehead 1sts end bottom of the table and a reset over the summer required, ideally with some new players who are always welcome at the club!

The 2nd XI had the reverse fixture, hosting Chard 2s, who are also high in their League. Hoping to improve on a draw earlier in the season, Minehead yet again were slow to start, not helped by a demob-happy squad content to chat instead of warm up properly, and were one down after 15 minutes.

Joe Bolton levelled things with a great goal started in the midfield through Reed on the left flank and the tireless Clegg and Taylor up front calling the shots. The hosts should have had a hatful of goals, but as always, the final pass just couldn’t find its target, and so many chances just floated off the end of the pitch - much to everyones’ frustration. 

The second half saw Chard’s younger team, and substitutes, make the difference as all Minehead’s pressure was thwarted either by the solid Chard defence, or yet more missed final passes.

Chard took the lead early in the half off a lucky deflection of Heale’s stick at a short corner, then Lawrence Taylor yet again made his mark with eight minutes to go pulled it back level again. Chard took advantage of an obvious foul that the hosts all paused waiting for a whistle that never came, and a quick break saw them one on one with keeper Hadley, who had no chance of stopping what proved to be the winner. A last-gasp short corner for Minehead was stopped on the line by the outstanding Chard keeper, giving them the win, and closing Minehead’s League campaign for this year. 

The club’s annual End of Season Dinner will be held at the Britannia Inn on Saturday, April 20,, where the award winners across the club during the past season will be presented with their awards and trophies. 

Special thanks go to outgoing team skippers Tom White and Paul Jones who have both worked so incredibly hard this year.