Bill Slee cup

South Zeal United 3

Thorverton 2

WITH a depleted squad South Zeal managed to progress to the next round of the Bill Slee cup with a tremendous defensive display and a hat-trick from Harley Cann.

The visitors dominated the first 15 minutes but gradually the Zeal midfield and forwards started to expose the Thorverton defence. The home side took the lead after 20 minutes when Scott Hooper played a great pass to Harley Cann who finished well from close range.

Both sides went close to scoring in the next 25 minutes and Zeal went two up when Harley Cann lobbed the Thorverton keeper from fully 50 yards, the visitors narrowed the deficit to 2-1 after a scramble in the Zeal penalty area and a close range shot.

Going into the second half 2-1 up the South Zeal defence was going to be tested, and so it was, as Thorverton pushed for an equaliser but they could not break down a well drilled defence and after several great runs by Darren Gilbert the home side went 3-1 up when Harley completed his hat-trick picking the ball up on the half way line and beating four defenders before slotting the ball beyond the Thorverton keeper.

Thorverton scored 15 minutes from time to reduce the deficit to one but failed to break down Zeal's excellent defence again and the home side progressed to the next round.