Clyst Valley 6
South Zeal Utd 4
WITH three first team players missing Zeal travelled to high riding Clyst Valley on Saturday in the hope of putting up a good performance and maybe getting a draw.
Clyst were dominant early on but Nick Pollard was causing their defence problems and after a great through ball by Shaun Hiscock, who had an outstanding game, he entered the penalty area and was pulled down by the Clyst Valley keeper. Steve Pillivant gave Zeal the lead from the resulting penalty.
Clyst Valley then scored twice within a ten-minute spell, the first direct from a free kick that was poorly defended and then from a close-range header.
Zeal equalised when Pillivant beat the keeper with a great strike from 30 yards and took a 3-2 lead going into the second half when Pollard lobbed the Clyst keeper from the edge of the penalty area.
In the second half it was all Clyst Valley and although the Zeal defence held firm for 20 minutes of the half, a mixture of pressure and poor defending allowed the home side to score three times and take a 5-3 lead.
With ten minutes left Arun Ditchburn hit a great through ball to Harley Cann who scored with a great volley to make the score 5-4.
Zeal pushed for the equaliser but paid the price just before the end when the home side broke and sealed victory.
Saturday, Heavitree, home, kick-off 3pm. Sunday, Broadclyst, home, kick-off 2.30pm.