Chard Town began their new Somerset County League season with a 2-2 draw at home to Chilcompton Sports.

Seven regular starters for Chard from last season were unavailable including the three top scorers from last year’s campaign.

Playing down the slope gave the team a chance to capitalise and put goals on the board. That advantage levelled the game out and both sides created good chances.

Chard took the lead after 20 minutes, when a cross by Owen Ford found the head of Conor Fielder who put the ball into the bottom corner for the first goal of the season.

This stirred Chilcompton up and they created chance after chance but Jason Contreras was resolute in goal.

With minutes to go to the break, the pressure was too much and Chilcompton got their equaliser.

Facing uphill in the second half it was going to be a long 45 minutes for Town and on 62 minutes Tom Boyland came on to make his first senior debut, four minutes later a breakaway down the right Chilcompton put a cross into the box and a Chard defender tried to clear it but it flew into the top corner.

On 74 minutes, player/manager Andrew Holmes came on and caused havoc with his long throws and 11 minutes later a long throw was headed by a defender and it looped into the net.

It was now Chilcompton who faced constant pressure. Bradley Masters nearly won the game in the dying minutes after another long throw from Andrew Holmes. 

The game finished 2-2 and it was viewed as a point gained for Chard considering the number of players unavailable.

After the game Player Manager Andrew Holmes said: "A solid result against a consistently good Somerset Prem Team. Today shows the importance of being one club - everyone playing for the name on the front of the shirt. We can, and will, improve as the season goes on."

Chard are due to face Staplegrove next on Tuesday (August 6).