HOCKEY: Taunton Vale men's firsts beaten twice in GoCrea8 Premiership

TAUNTON Vale men’s 1sts suffered two 4-1 defeats over the weekend, at home to Cardiff & Met A on Friday, and at Team Bath Buccs A on Sunday.

An over-strengthened Cardiff side overpowered Vale on Friday night, and the Taunton side had to travel to the league leaders two days later.

The visitors began well but soon fell behind, and conceded a second on the counter-attack.

Despite an improved performance from Vale, they went 3-0 down, before finishing the first half with a Karl Trunks goal from a short corner.

They raised their game and dominated possession after the break, but could not score again, and with Vale withdrawing their keeper to push up, Buccs sealed it late on.

Man of the match: Joe Morris

This coming Saturday, Vale – now second bottom in the table – travel to fourth-placed Cardiff Uni (1.30pm).

Conference South
PGSOB 4, Taunton Vale A 1

VALE 2nds travelled to Plymouth with a much-changed squad, and fell 2-0 down to a quick-fire double.

The away side pulled one back through the influential Adam Veitch, but trailed 3-1 at half time.

After the break, Vale created plenty of chances but couldn’t score, and the Plymouth side scored a fourth late on.

Their next match sees them host Firebrands A, on Saturday (1.30pm).

Central 1
Team Bath Buccs D 2, Taunton Vale B 1

THE men’s 3rd XI were left disappointed as they lost at Bath, despite an improved display.

In an even first half, Vale took the lead with a well-worked penalty corner, as Dave Tarr deflected in Jonty Lawford’s pinpoint pass.

The defence looked comfortable, until being caught out by an interception and the equaliser.

After the break, Bath mounted an onslaught, but Ivo Maxwell, Tom Evans and Mark Aspden kept them at bay, and Lawford hit the post after a quick counter-attack.

Suddenly a penalty corner put the hosts ahead, and Vale could not equalise, as Lawford’s shot hit a defender’s leg, but the umpires being unsighted meant no penalty flick was given.

Man of the match: Ivo Maxwell

On Saturday, Vale host Somerset Gryphons, who are two points ahead of them (3pm).

South East 1
Taunton Vale C 3, Isca D 4

A DREADFUL start from Vale 4ths – with concentration sorely lacking – saw them fall 3-0 behind inside the first 15 minutes at home to Isca 5ths.

Once the hosts regained composure they played some excellent hockey, and goals from Andy Rogers and Arthur Whittle put them right back in it.

An excellent solo goal – but one that Vale should have prevented – made it 4-2 after the break.

The home side pulled another back, Jerry Osborne netting from a short corner, but they could not level.

Man of the match: Arthur Whittle

Next up is a match at league leaders Minehead (1.30pm).

South East 2
Chard A 3, Taunton Vale D 1

LOWLY Vale 5ths held Chard to parity for a large period of the game, only to concede two late goals that sent the hosts top of the table.

Chard started brightly and took the lead after 10 minutes, but the Vikings deservedly equalised after 20 minutes, as Jon Pike made an excellent run and pulled the ball back to Ed Waterman, who smashed home from close range.

After the break, the visitors’ rearguard held firm, only for two late goals to break their hearts.

Vale host Taunton C.S. A on Saturday (4.30pm).

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West Clubs Women’s League
Plymouth Marjon 0, Taunton Vale 2

VALE ladies 1sts travelled to bottom side Plymouth Marjon on Saturday, and won 2-0, with goals from Victoria Knight and Hannah Hughes.

Now seventh in the table, Vale are at home to eighth-placed Isca 2nds on Saturday (11.30am).

Central Division
Bridgwater 2, Taunton Vale 3rds 1

THE ladies 3rds remain marooned on one point after a 2-1 loss at Bridgwater on Saturday.

After going behind, they battled back to equalise, but the hosts went back ahead and saw out a scoreless second half to win.

This Saturday, Vale host eighth-placed Taw Valley (10am).

South Division
Taunton Vale 2nds 1, Plymouth Marjon 2nds 3

PLYMOUTH Marjon 2nds leapfrogged Vale ladies 2nds with a 3-1 away win.

Vale are at second-bottom Okehampton on Saturday (2pm).

Sedgemoor Division 1
Taunton Vale 4ths 1, Sidmouth & Ottery 2nds 1

VALE 4ths were disarray in the first half and went into the break 1-0 down.

But they went on the attack in the second half, with Talia Bird scoring from a fine cross by Sophie Walker.

Junior player Maria Stennett was voted player of the match.

The 4ths travel to league leaders Minehead on Saturday (10.30am).

Sedgemoor Division 2
Taunton Vale 5ths 0, Bridgwater 2nds 2

THE ladies 5ths suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Bridgwater 2nds to stay third from bottom.

On Saturday they go to table-toppers Chard (12.30pm).

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Sedgemoor Division 1
Minehead Ladies 4, Taunton Civil Service 2

MINEHEAD ladies hosted Taunton Civil Service on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash, with the home side victorious.

The visitors started on top, but Minehead then settled and started to mark CS’ dangerous players out of the game.

Vicky Perkins made several solo runs, one of of which led to a well-taken close-range shot past the goalkeeper.

Minehead continued to press, but couldn’t add to their lead and were made to pay when CS equalised.

That sparked the hosts into life, with their passing and movement too much for their opponents, and Perkins was unstoppable, scoring another three goals.

With the score 4-1 at half time, CS came out fighting after the interval and pulled one back, but an organised Minehead side saw out a deserved win to go top of Sedgemoor Division 1 on goal difference.

Minehead’s ‘Valiant Soldier Roadwater Player of the match’ was Briony Smith.

On Saturday Minehead ladies host sixth-placed Taunton Vale 4ths (10.30am) and Taunton CS ladies are at home to Winscombe 2nds, who are eighth (1.30pm).

In Sedgemoor Division 2, there were heavy defeats for Minehead ladies 2nds – 8-0 at White Eagles 2nds – and Taunton CS 2nds – 5-0 at home to Chard.

Coming up this Saturday, CS 2nds are at Taw Valley 2nds (11.30am), while Minehead 2nds have the weekend off.

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AS for the Taunton Civil Service men’s teams, the 1st XI moved up to third from bottom in GoCrea8 Central 2, leapfrogging Westbury & UB B by beating them 2-1 on the road.

In South East 2, Taunton CS A won 3-1 at home to East Devon C, knocking their visitors off the top of the table, while going sixth themselves.

This Saturday, the 1sts host bottom side Marlborough A (noon), while the 2nd XI are at Taunton Vale D (4.30pm).

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MINEHEAD Hockey Club 1sts (from left): Back row - Nev Weir, Nick Hill, James Miles, James Weetch, Brandon Rawle, Shane Heale, Ben Cowling (capt) Nick Jones. Front - Nick Bennet, Ian Jeanes, Jos Bennett, Archie Marsh, Rob Speed.

GoCrea8 South East 1
Minehead 8, Tiverton 0

MINEHEAD hosted top of the table and previously unbeaten Tiverton on Saturday.

Minehead went into the game on a three-game unbeaten run themselves, scoring 27 goals in the process, but the game started as a cagey affair with neither team enjoying a great amount of possession.

The hosts soon settled and opened the scoring on the 20-minute mark through Nick Bennett, who tapped home at the back post after some skilful play from James Weetch opened up the Tiverton defence.

Weetch then added the second for Minehead after a well worked attacking free hit and some quick thinking play from Nick Hill and James Miles.

Minehead then showed their attacking prowess as good work between midfielders Rob Speed and Archie Marsh saw the ball find Hill on the right-hand side, and his ball in was finished by Jos Bennett.

Nick Bennett completed the first half scoring with a skilfully taken goal, lifting the ball high into the net past the Tiverton keeper.

Minehead started the second half where they had left off in the first, with some good attacking play down the right by Ben Cowling providing Weetch with his second.

After some strong play from Tiverton with Minehead soaking up the pressure well, the home side scored two quick goals.

The first came from Hill, who netted his 15th of the season with a superbly taken strike into the roof of the net, and Speed then scored his first of the season with a well-placed shot.

Minehead completed the scoring with two minutes left after an interception from Hill and good counter-attacking work from Marsh who set up Weetch at the back post for a simple tap-in to complete his hat-trick and notch his 16th goal of the season.

This was an impressive result for Minehead with all members of the team contributing to the overall result.

Minehead host mid-table Taunton Vale C on Saturday (1.30pm).

Man of the match: Rob Speed
Minehead: Brandon Rawle, Shane Heale, James Miles, Ben Cowling, Nev Weir, Archie Marsh, Rob Speed, Ian Jeanes, Nick Bennett, James Weetch, Nick Hill, Nick Jones, Jos Bennett.