Cheddar 0 Hallen 1

A well taken 50th minute winner, steered home by centre forward Adnan Hiroli, was the difference between these two sides as Friday night football returned under the Bowdens Park floodlights in front of a good sized crowd.

It was noticeably evident from the frenzied football on show from the kick-off that both sides were looking to reduce their previous results to history, the hosts having lost their previous encounter (1-4 to Shirehampton) and their visitors not having much the better fortune in their 0-6 home reversal at the hands of Odd Down. Much effort but low on the quality was the watchword of the opening exchanges as the game swung from end to end at frenetic pace.

Had good fortune (which has been sadly missing in terms of Cheddar’s goalmouth opportunities since the last occasion they tasted success on home soil back in August) favoured Cheddar, the hosts might well have taken an early lead on five minutes, the ever-eager Dean Chrisostomou running at full speed through the Hallen defence, crashed his shot into the advertising hoardings behind Harry Thomas-Barker’s goal. Then on 14 minutes, Webster was called upon to make a direct save after Mark Thorn was given a clear run-on goal following a poor Cheddar clearance.

As the game began to open up, Chrisostomou showing impressive technical ability, and using impressive interplay with fellow striker Lewis Chappell, saw his effort swerve agonisingly inches wide of the Hallen custodian’s right-hand post. On the half hour Matt Davies’ 22-yard strike brought out the best in Webster, the Cheddar captain arching back to tip the Hallen’s wing back effort over the crossbar.

Then on 40 minutes, Owen Griffiths' 35-yard strike was just off target, before – on the stroke of half time – Webster was again called into action, diving low to smother Aaron Blakemore’s effort.

The visitors edged in front on 50 minutes through Adnan’s cool 15-yard finish running through to slot home past the advancing Webster. Hallen might well have added a second goal on the hour, but Mark Thuo shot wildly with the goal at his mercy before Webster spared his side’s blushes with a top drawer save on 80 minutes, stopping man-of-the-match Hiroli’s strike at direct range.

This was not to be Cheddar’s night on an evening of frustration for Michael Dangerfield and his beleaguered young team, and the inexperienced Cheesemen falling to their fifth consecutive defeat.

An interesting statistic from this game however is that victors Hallen’s away form is better than their form at home, having been defeated just once in seven away games.

Cheddar drop to 18th place following the weekend results, returned to action in the Somerset Premier Cup (2nd Round) on Tuesday when Toolstation Premier League leaders Bridgwater Town were the visitors.

The Cheesemen travel to face fifth placed FC Bristol [in a re-arranged match] whom they suffered a home reversal in September losing by the odd goal in three. The real testing pot would appear to be taking place the following weekend however when bottom side Radstock Town are the visitors, the game being billed as a potential ‘six pointer.’

Summarising his thoughts, post-match, Cheddar manager Michael Dangerfield said: “We had a very steady first half and had three clear-cut chances, which to be honest was a similar story to that of our last game here.

"We just need to be more clinical in front of goal. We are carving out several opportunities for ourselves but are paying the price for missed opportunities. Moving on, we take on Bridgwater (the Toolstation League leaders) here on Tuesday and that will be a test for sure but we keep going, and I feel confident that if we keep playing as we are, and we start to convert a number of the chances we are creating then we will turn the corner, I’m confident of that. We will keep going, our luck will turn!”