Somerset County Premier
Staplegrove 2, Middlezoy Rovers 3

MIDDLEZOY made it four wins from five league games with a narrow victory at Staplegrove to open up a four-point gap between themselves in fourth and their opponents in fifth.

First-half goals from Jed Williams and Craig Wright gave the visitors a two-goal lead, but the home side made a decent fist of it with replies from Tom Edwards and Alexis Piper either side of a Dan Luce goal for Zoy in the second half.

Playing down the slope and with the wind, Middlezoy started the brighter with Williams giving his opposite number a torrid time of it down the left.

On three minutes he teed up Wright, but his two efforts were well saved by Lloyd Alley in the Staplegrove goal, and James Conway also tested Alley as Zoy attacked again and again.

The breakthrough arrived on 10 minutes when Steve Hall’s delivery was nudged in by the unmarked Williams from close range.

Williams then turned provider after wriggling clear of his man and squaring the ball on a plate for Wright to double the lead.

The visitors were dealt a blow on the half hour mark when Williams was forced off with illness.

Zoy had to make another change at the break, Jamie Merrick unable to continue after a late challenge.

Keeper Steve Baker made a miraculous save to deny Piper as the game swung in the hosts’ favour, and they netted on 59 minutes when Piper squared for Edwards to slot in from 12 yards.

The visitors were now playing on the break and, after missing an earlier chance, Luce scored on 74 minutes via the post.

The hosts’ player-manager Kirk Reece entered the fray as his side sent a series of long balls into the box.

Following a Staplegrove corner on 84 minutes, Piper was tripped by Charlie Lintell who had been forced to the ground himself and the referee pointed to the spot.

Piper rolled the spot-kick home to set up a frantic last few minutes, with Carl Edwards’ header tipped round the post by Baker.

Management duo of John and Dave Warren called it Zoy’s performance of the season under the circumstances, and can be more than pleased with 41 points from 22 games in their first season at this level.

Middlezoy: Baker, Hall, Clapp, Brown, Lintell, Conway, Tucker, Luce, Merrick (Warren), Williams (Temlett), Wright (Male).

Zoy host leaders Nailsea & Tickenham this Saturday (ko 2pm, free entry) – a win would close the gap between them and their opponents to just six points.