Somerset County League Premier & First Division Cup final

Middlezoy Rovers 2, Minehead AFC 0

CALLUM Laird’s brace ensured Middlezoy Rovers capped a super season with silverware as they overcame Minehead in the League Cup final last Thursday night.

In front of a good crowd at Bridgwater Town FC’s Fairfax Park, Premier Division Zoy started on the front foot against their Division 1 opponents.

Zoy took the lead on 17 minutes when Charlie Lintell found Adam Long on the left, and his cross was tucked away by Laird.

Long and Matt Connick spurned great chances to double the lead, which stayed at 1-0 until the break.

Zoy made a couple of changes as the second half progressed and eventually scored the decisive second goal with 16 minutes to play.

This time it came from an Aaron Whaites corner, which was recycled by Jake Horsey and guided in from close range by Laird for his second.

Goalkeeper Greg Turner managed to keep a clean sheet as Middlezoy saw out the closing stages to spark jubilant scenes.

Somerset County Premier

Stockwood Green 1, Middlezoy Rovers 1

LESS than 48 hours after their cup final win, Middlezoy played their final game of the season on Saturday as they travelled to Stockwood Green.

Zoy could be forgiven for a sluggish start and that’s exactly they had, with a few players still recovering.

It was no surprise when Stockwood took the lead inside 20 minutes when a long diagonal ball to the far post was headed home past the helpless Greg Turner.

This gave Zoy a wake-up call and they were soon passing the ball around well, making Stockwood chase shadows in the heat.

Chances were starting to come and Matt Connick set up the equaliser as his cross found its way into the path of the onrushing Dan Luce, who slotted into the bottom corner.

It was Zoy who were now looking the more likely to go on and win the game as, moments later, good work from the midfield created an opportunity for Jed Williams, however he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

The half-time break seemed to send Zoy back to sleep as some players were clearly still struggling from the cup celebrations and they started slowly again.

They had Greg Turner in goal to thank for twice keeping them in the game with two fine saves, one of which then coming back off the post.

Zoy still looked dangerous going forward and hit the woodwork through Alex Male, but both sides settled for a point.

The draw sees Zoy cap off an impressive end to the season which has seen them finish in fourth in the league following a 17-match unbeaten run

Middlezoy Rovers Reserves are celebrating after results elsewhere saw them crowned Somerset County League Division 3 champions on Saturday.

Cheddar Reserves would have sealed top spot with a win at home to mid-table Banwell, but they were held to a 1-1 draw.

This left Zoy a point clear at the top and ensures a second addition to the club’s trophy cabinet in the space of a week, with the first team having beaten Minehead in the Premier & First Division Cup final on Thursday night (see back).

Bridgwater Town Reserves were knocked down a place to fourth after the final weekend of matches in Division 1.

Uphill Castle leapfrogged the Robins into third after they beat Timsbury Athletic 3-2 on Saturday.