Devon and Exeter five

South Zeal United 3

Royal Oak 5

AFTER losing their last four on the bounce Zeal looked to take a shock win against unbeaten top of the league Royal Oak to stop the rot. The home side started strongly and completely dominated the first 30 minutes, looking more like an unbeaten side than the visitors.

An Oak defender was lucky to be on the pitch, according to the home team as he handled the ball as the last man to prevent a scoring opportunity; however, the referee decided just a free kick was warranted. James Williams strike was parried by the keeper but Adam Clark was too quick and ran in to bundle it home and take a 1-0 lead for Zeal. Oak then began to play, and found themselves 2-1 up at half time, and later 4-1 up with 30 minutes to play.

Much to their credit South Zeal never looked like giving up and battled hard in the middle of the park. Ollie Jefferies’ performance on the right wing was to be admired as he was key to create some of the home side’s best chances. Left back Tom Boother and left winger Ryan Dennis formed a strong partnership down that side of the pitch. It was their superb overlapping that allowed for Boother to get forward from defence and fire in a second for zeal from long range. 4-2.

South Zeal were the better team by far for the remainder of the game — James Williams and Lee Gilbert were dominant at the back and played straight up to the midfield three Scott Tremain, Samuel Jones and George Jeffery.

Drawing in the Oak back line Clark broke through and cut a ball back for the newly introduced James Anderson who was hacked down in the box. Clark Stepped up and dispatched the penalty for 4-3. The Rectory was now rocking and a real belief that South Zeal could win the game was now instilled in the team and the supporters. As South Zeal pressed for the equaliser Oak broke away and a wonder strike from 25 yards nestled in the top left corner, killing the match with only a few minutes to play.