Devon and Exeter six

South Zeal United 6

Dunkeswell 5

IN one of just five games to be played in all the Devon and Exeter football leagues. South Zeal hosted the side they lost 5-3 to only a month ago.

Making full use of the windy conditions the home side started brightly, playing direct attacking football through the mud.

Ten minutes in Tom Reilly brought the ball under control in the centre of the park before bursting into the box and poking the ball past the keeper for 1-0.

This seemed to open the flood gates as Zeal went on to score with ease. A great passing move between Harry Smith and Adam Clark gave the former his first of his final match for the club. Minutes later it was Clark who found the net, outpacing the outrushing goalkeeper to send a sliding finish into the net for 3-0.

Again it was Clark and Smith that linked up with quick one-touch passes, before Smith was sent through on goal; his calm, dinked shot nestling in the net for 4-0.

Ryan Dennis, who glided past his opposite number down the left flank time after time in the game, sent a long curled pass into the path of Adam Clark; Clark this time taking an early strike to beat the keeper to make it 5-0 at half time to the home side.

The second half proved to be a completely different challenge for Zeal as they played into the strong winds. Unable to clear their lines and get the ball out of the home half, Dunkeswell pressured Zeal and began to bombard the area. It was not long before the away side found the net after a scramble to give them a glimmer of hope.

In what seemed to be a rare attack in the second half Tom Boother found the net with a stunning vollied effort — the ball just dropping under the bar to restore Zeal’s five goal advantage at 6-1.

The remaining 30 minutes of the game was a case of could Zeal hold on? Dunkeswell began a series of scrappy goals that resulted in them pulling the score to 6-5.

With just five minutes left Zeal began to get a grip of the game and were able to see the match out for a much needed three points.

South Zeal now sit in fourth position at the Christmas break.