Devon and Exeter division three
South Zeal Utd 2
Countess Wear 2
PLAYING against a strong wind in the first half South Zeal started well.
They took the lead after 15 minutes when Harley Cann collected a good through ball from Scott Hooper and rounded the visiting keeper to finish at the far post.
The home side looked as if they would increase their lead but good attacking play was let down time after time with poor final passes and eventually the visitors equalised on the half hour when a free kick was diverted past Reg Wonnacott in the South Zeal goal — the ball hitting two home players before crossing the line.
A mix up in the home sides defence gave Countess Wear the lead just before half time after a South Zeal throw in near their own corner flag found its way to the feet of a Countess Wear forward who finished well from the edge of the penalty area.
Although always dangerous on the break the visitors were always under pressure.
In the second half South Zeal pushed for the equaliser and were rewarded with 20 minutes to go when Darren Prouse hit a speculative shot from 18 yards that evaded the unsighted visiting keeper and crept just inside the left hand post.
In the last 10 minutes Tom Reilly hit the Countess bar with a good header after a flick on from Jamie Atherton, and several other chances went just wide as South Zeal tried in vain to secure all three points..