Somerset Division One West

Wells City Reserves 0 Middlezoy Rovers 1

MIDDLEZOY were crowned champions of the division two weeks ago after away victory at Portishead and travelled to second placed Wells City Reserves with nine first team regulars missing from the squad.

Remarkably, it did not matter one jot as those stepping in stood up to the task and extended Zoy's unbeaten league record to twenty games - Andy Smith's third minute goal doing the damage.

The visitors, in an unfamiliar 3-5-2, were quickly into their stride with young Harrison Puplett and Jed Williams combining well down the left early on. Williams' cross field ball found the head of regular goalkeeper Greg Turner, starting as a striker and his header fell into the path of Smith who fired on the half-volley past the big frame of Coppell in the Wells goal into the top corner.

Williams was a nuisance for the Wells backline all afternoon and after good work again by makeshift forward Turner, he missed a good opportunity on 14 minutes cutting back inside before being tackled in front of goal.

As the game settled down, Wells began to enjoy more of the possession and were unlucky not to equalise on 36 minutes, but Charlie Crook's header was ruled out for offside.

Joe Warren in the Middlezoy goal then did well to hold on to a Crook free kick under heavy pressure, as the visitors held onto their lead at the break.

After the break the visitors had Shaun Turner to thank for a last gasp tackle on Wells forward Charlie Moon, preventing a clear goal scoring opportunity. Tempers then flared as the home side began to grow increasingly impatient, with the young Middlezoy side feeling the wrath of some late and dangerous tackling.

The visitors were still looking a threat with Williams' pace getting him into some good positions, but shots at the goal were not testing Coppell. Home forward Moon had the best late chance, but he blasted high over the crossbar on 82 minutes with only Warren to beat.

Champions Middlezoy held on for their tenth clean sheet in eleven league away games and extended their lead at the top to 20 points.

Management duo John and Dave Warren called this performance one of the best this season: "To come here without so many regular players and win is probably performance of the season for us. Credit to everyone involved this afternoon and over the course of this excellent season.

"We are really pleased to extend the unbeaten run and proved this afternoon that there is good competition for placed in the squad right now.

"May we also wish our captain Damon Jennings well as he recovers from a nasty leg infection and striker Craig Wright who dislocated his knee two weeks ago."

Team: JWarren, AClapp, JHorsey, STurner, HPuplett (TCowd), JHatch (DMale), CTucker, JDoyle, ASmith, JWilliams, GTurner.

Star Man: Harrison Puplett - Middlezoy Rovers