OLDLAND 1 CHARD TOWN 2

Chard started brightly and apart from a Sam Abraham effort that went wide, they initially looked the better side. Forcing four corners taken by the quality left foot of Andy Martin, none of them came to anything though.

So it was slightly against the run of play that Oldland took the lead. Jordan Greenwood crossed in from the left, Connor Davies got to the ball before the keeper, flicking it up for Paul Coles to nod in from close range. Chard almost equalised straight away but Jamie Powell produced a spectacular tip over from Martin's left foot screamer.

The game was end -to-end but lacking real clear cut chances. Chard stopper Jason Hutchings saved a rising shot from Gary Shorney then saved a volley on the turn from Josh Dempsey; he then denied both Shorney and Ryan Ashwood with a double save to keep his side in the game.

The nature of the game continued in the second half. Oldland thought they may have a shout for a penalty but nothing was given but early on, the only efforts on goal went well wide. Ali Bamford (Oldland) and Louis Gillman (Chard) both were off target while the Robins top scorer, sub Sam Clark was on target but his shot was half hit and easily held by Powell.

Chard sub Braeden Symes made an instant impact when he came on after the hour mark. From the right wing, he hit a superb cross field ball to Ed Butcher who controlled before firing a low shot past Powell and into the net.

Powell then set up a move with a careful clearance that found Ashwood and his run down the left and cross found Gary Shorney who side footed wide. On 71 minutes, Chard were reduced to ten men when keeper Jason Hutchings was sent off; the keeper coming out of his area and inadvertently blocking Connor Davies' goal bound shot with his hands, then his face. After consulting with his assistant, ref Martin Peters issued a red card, with Chard defender Shaun Wells-Burr taking over the gloves.

Within three minutes though, Chard found a winner. Martin's corners had been delivered well all game and with his eleventh corner from the left flank, skipper George Chlopecki met it with a firm header to earn his side the lead.

Wells-Burr stood firm for the inevitable Oldland onslaught saving from Dempsey but it was Chard who could have scored late on when Powell got down low to save from Clark.