Devon & Exeter Senior 3 South Zeal Utd 6 Heavitree 3 ZEAL came into this game having lost their first two league matches and badly needed some sort of result to get their season back on track. They started well but went behind against the run of play when a long throw was allowed to drop to the feet of one of the visiting forwards who finished easily from close range. With Redd Cann moving to right wing back and Arnie Searle into midfield, Zeal played good football and went two one up after 20 minutes when Heavitree scored two own goals when pressured by Jerry Stephens and Darren Gilbert respectively. Jerry Stephens made it 3-1 when he lobbed the visiting keeper from the edge of the penalty area after being put through by Reg Wonnacott, and Harley Cann made it 4-1 with a similar finish after a through ball from Arnie Searle. Heavitree clawed their way back when they broke down the right and although Adam Cann got his hand to the shot neither he nor Tim Sanderson could prevent the visitors? striker from putting the loose ball into the net. The visitors had the upper hand and only great defending from Zeal, where Lee Gilbert was outstanding, stopped them from reducing the two-goal deficit. Zeal restored their three-goal lead when pressure from Darren Gilbert forced a mistake by a Heavitree defender and Gilbert finished well with a good finish from an acute angle. Although 5-2 up the visitors were always dangerous and when Reg Wonnacott had to come off with a knee injury Zeal had to re-organise. They coped well but conceded with 15 minutes left and their defence dug deep to keep out the onslaught. The pressure was eased ten minutes from time when Jerry Stephens was played through by Roger White, Jerry took the ball on and calmly finished past the keeper to give Zeal a welcome victory. This week Totnes at home, kick-off 2pm. DCC match.
