Uhlsport Somerset County League Premier Division

Middlezoy Rovers 3, Stockwood Green 0

MIDDLEZOY Rovers were looking to build on their winning start to the new year on Saturday, as they hosted mid-table rivals Stockwood Green.

A tactical change saw Jake Horsey, who usually plays at centre-back, placed up front for the day.

This switch brought instant success, as a ball into the box was touched back to Horsey by Dan Luce for the frontman to lash home first time and give Zoy an early lead.

The hosts were passing the ball around well, Horsey linking with the midfield, and he found himself in on goal again on 20 minutes, but was closed down well by the onrushing goalkeeper.

Stockwood’s front two looked dangerous but the Zoy back four dealt with them well to limit any threat to their goal.

It was the home side who had the majority of the possession and the better first-half chances, but it remained 1-0 at half time.

The next goal was crucial, and luckily for Zoy, the visitors gifted it to them, as a off-the-ball incident involving Horsey resulted in a red card and a penalty being awarded to the home team.

Callum Laird stepped up and calmly rolled the ball into the bottom corner to double his side’s lead.

With Stockwood down to 10 men, the game was now very open and Zoy began to create chances at will.

Andy Smith had his shot well saved from six yards out, as Matt Connick and Adam Long were getting in down the wings but the final ball was not quite there.

A third goal came on the hour, though, when a long diagonal from Laird found Connick rushing in, and he looped his header over the keeper and into the net.

The hosts comfortably saw out the remaining half hour to record their second win and clean sheet in a row, a task made easier when Stockwood were reduced to nine men with five minutes left, for a high tackle on Alex Male.

Man of the match: Jake Horsey

Middlezoy remain seventh in the league standings and this Saturday (ko 2pm) they travel to Worle, who are one place and six points ahead of them.

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DIVISION 1 leaders Bridgwater Town Reserves were without a game on Saturday and saw their lead at the top cut to four points as second-placed Saltford beat Wells City Reserves 4-0.

The Robins’ second string return to action on Saturday at home to fourth-placed Mendip Broadwalk (3pm).

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Uhlsport Somerset County League Division 3

Burnham United Reserves 0, Middlezoy Rovers Reserves 2

ON a gloomy Saturday, Middlezoy Rovers Reserves made the short journey to Burnham to take on a team that had won three on the bounce.

The start of the game was a bit scrappy from both teams, with neither really able to get hold of the ball.

In the 15th minute Scott Rich was called into action and made a very good save from the home striker’s venomous drive.

The visitors then had a very good claim for a penalty as a free-kick looked to be handled in the box, only for the referee to wave play on.

Burnham almost took the lead soon after, only for goalkeeper Rich to come off his line and make a fine save at the feet of the striker.

Finally the breakthrough came, just before half-time, as Ryan Brewer’s corner was headed goalwards by Luke Morgan, and Craig Wright nipped in front of the Burnham keeper to score.

Early in the second half Burnham saw a header from a corner come back off the post, but otherwise the Zoy defence held firm.

The game was put to bed in the 85th minute, when Zoy were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out and Wright struck the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner.

A fifth win on the bounce for Middlezoy takes them back to the top of the table.

Man of the match: Scott Rich

This Saturday sees Zoy Reserves host Stockwood Green Reserves (ko 2pm).