Culm 4
South Zeal Utd 2
WITH several players out Zeal faced a tough task on Saturday but although beaten the team put in a great performance.
Culm were rampant in the first ten minutes and gave the Zeal defence plenty to think about. Zeal went one down slightly against the run of play when a cross from the right saw one of Culm?s strikers beat Adam Cann to the ball and glance a header into the net.
Zeal could easily have gone ahead but the finish could not match approach play. A great strike from Garry Smith was disallowed for offside.
The pressure had to tell ? a free kick was played across to Reg Wonnacott from Garry Smith and the resulting drive from Wonnacott ended in the roof of the Culm net.
Culm took the lead against the run of play when Tim Sanderson saw the ball bounce up and hit his arm just inside the penalty area. The resulting penalty was despatched.
Zeal dominated the second half with Phil Tyler playing great football down the left but they could not convert chances into goals. After going 3-1 down after 15 minutes they clawed themselves back when Lee Gilbert was brought down in the penalty area and Arun Ditchburn converted the spot kick.
Zeal pushed for the equaliser but more chances went begging and in the end Culm broke and scored their fourth goal.
This week home to East Budleigh, kick-off 2.30pm.