Uhlsport Somerset County League
Premier Division
Middlezoy Rovers 1, Clevedon United 1

DAN Luce’s last-minute leveller earned a point for Middlezoy Rovers in the latest in their run of tough games, which this week saw them host third-placed Clevedon United.

The game started at a quick pace, with Clevedon giving their hosts very little time on the ball.

Zoy were seeing more of the ball but neither goalkeeper was really tested in the first 15 minutes.

The first big chance of the game fell for the home side 20 minutes in, when good work from Liam Winter allowed him to deliver a ball to the far post, finding Aaron Whaites, but Whaites failed to work the keeper.

The home defence were doing well to keep the lively Clevedon attack quiet and Lee Graham was on hand to superbly block a goalbound effort on the half-hour.

After a goalless first half, both side knew that one goal could settle the tie, and the second half began in very tight fashion.

Both sides were seeing an equal share of the ball but neither were creating clear-cut chances.

On the hour, Winter did well to work space for himself on the edge of the box but delayed his shot and the visitors were able to clear.

This proved costly, as from the resulting Clevedon attack they won a free-kick in a dangerous area.

Up stepped their centre forward, who bent his effort round the wall and into the bottom corner for 1-0.

This was a lead that the visitors looked happy to sit back and defend, as Zoy began to step up the pressure in search of an equaliser.

It took until the 85th minute for their next real chance, as a long throw bounced in the box and Luce acrobatically turned it goalwards, only for the ball to go just past the angle of post and bar.

Five minutes later, though, the hosts broke down the right through Charlie Lintell, who delivered a brilliant deep cross to the far post to find Luce running in, and he guided his header back across the keeper to draw the sides level.

The game finished 1-1, a draw that keeps Middlezoy in second place.

Middlezoy Rovers: Greg Turner, Lee Graham, Jonathan Higgins, Charlie Lintell, Adam Long, Dan Luce, Alex Male, Andrew Smith, Aaron Whaites, Charlie White, Liam Winter. Subs (used): Darren Cann, Dan Lismore.

Man of the match: Charlie White

Middlezoy are at home to sixth-placed Mendip Broadwalk this coming Saturday (2pm), their visitors having beaten Watchet Town 4-1 at the weekend.

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MIDDLEZOY Rovers Ladies were desperately unlucky not to come away from Bishops Lydeard with at least a point on Sunday, scoring three times but still losing out.

Chloe Snook grabbed a hat-trick for the visitors, but losing goalkeeper Lindsay Rogers to injury before half-time proved fatal for their hopes.

Emily Crook (2), Amber Guy-Kemp and Kayleigh Riley got the goals for Lydeard, who move one point off the top of the South West Women’s Premier Division with the 4-3 win.

Middlezoy are sixth, four points behind Lydeard, and they face another away trip this coming Sunday (2pm).

Weston-super-Mare are the hosts, for a Somerset FA Women’s Senior Cup quarter-final clash.