Uhlsport Somerset County League
Premier & Division 1 Cup
Clevedon United 0, Middlezoy Rovers 2

MIDDLEZOY took a break from league action on Saturday as they went to Clevedon United, a team they had lost to in the Premier Division only a few week before.

In windy conditions it was never going to be the prettiest of games but Zoy started better.

Oli Ham was causing problems out wide, aided by Callum Laird’s diagonal balls, and his mazy run set up Adam Long, whose shot was well saved.

Clevedon then nearly broke the deadlock as a ball fizzed across the six-yard box was not dealt with, giving the Clevedon centre forward a simple tap-in, but he failed to get any real contact on the ball as it trickled safely into the hands of Greg Turner.

On 15 minutes Zoy thought they had the opener as Ham’s shot from Matt Connick’s perfect cross was parried out to Dan Luce, who converted the rebound, only for the linesman to have his flag up.

It wasn’t long before Zoy finally took the lead their pressure deserved, though, as a well-worked short corner between Luce and Ham was delivered by Ham for Laird to power his header into the bottom corner.

Zoy were looking more likely to further their lead after the break, as they were creating various opportunities but failing to convert; they hit the bar three times and were kept at bay by some last-ditch blocks.

With Clevedon having the league’s top scorer up front they were always going to be a threat and Zoy knew they needed another goal to kill the game off.

On 70 minutes they had a golden chance to do this as Connick, who had been a thorn in the side of the Clevedon defence all day, was dragged down in the box for a penalty.

Jamie Temlett, having just come off the bench, had the chance to score with his first touch, but the Clevedon keeper got down well to his left to tip the effort round the post.

It wasn’t long before the game was put to bed, however, as Charlie Lintell blasted the ball home on the volley following a goalmouth scramble to see Zoy into the next round.

It could have got even better for Zoy with the last kick of the game as Temlett fired wide when through one-on-one, but Zoy had already done enough to progress.

Man of the match: Jake Horsey

This coming Saturday, Zoy go to Nailsea & Tickenham (ko 3pm).

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Uhlsport Somerset County League
Division 2 & 3 Cup
Middlezoy Rovers Res 2, Welton Rovers Res 1

ON a very windy day at the Aerodrome, Middlezoy hosted a team from the league above them in the Division 2 & 3 Cup.

The first chance came when Zoy were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out; Craig Wright slipped in Scott Capel, whose first touches were sublime but unfortunately his third wasn’t, as he blasted over the bar from four yards.

It was goalless at the break, but Welton broke the deadlock in the second half as Conor Ford outmuscled Simon Bone, ran though and found the net.

The comeback began in the 70th minute, as Adam Prescott whipped in a delicious ball for Wright, who scored with a diving header from the edge of the box.

Middlezoy kept piling on the pressure, and Callum James found Wright, who slipped in Capel, whose shot was saved, only for Wright to head in the rebound to win it.

Man of the Match: Dan Male

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Invest SouthWest Taunton Saturday League
Division 2
FC Castlemoat 4, Middlezoy Rovers Athletic 1

ATHLETIC were on the back foot from the start as the Moat midfield took control, and despite some decent saves from Scott Rich it was 2-0 at half time.

Moat pounced on a defensive error to increase their lead, then added a fourth.

But the last word was Athletic’s, as Ross Coleman slammed home at the near post.

***

South West Women’s League
Premier Division
Middlezoy Rovers Ladies 7, Torquay United Ladies 1

MIDDLEZOY attacked from the start and Rosie Williams fired over the bar in the second minute when well placed.

She wasn’t to be denied, though, as after five minutes she hit an unstoppable 25-yard shot past the keeper.

Zoy continued to put Torquay under pressure, their keeper making several brilliant saves.

After 20 minutes, a corner from Rosie Williams was headed in by Georgia Coles, and she made it 3-0 after 42 minutes.

After the break, playing into the wind, Chloe Snook hit the post, but then Torquay pulled a goal back.

Within a minute, Middlezoy regained their three-goal lead through Snook, and Anusia Rourke scored twice within 10 minutes.

Coles completed her hat-trick just before the end.

This keeps Middlezoy in fifth place and this coming Sunday sees them travel to Portishead (ko 2pm).