South Zeal United 3 Winkleigh 0 AFTER a very good pre-season where Zeal won all of their five games, their good form continued in the first league game of the season as they comprehensively defeated Winkleigh on Saturday. Zeal started well and could have gone one up in the opening minute when Harley Cann put Jerry Stephens through on goal, but the ball bobbled and his shot went narrowly wide. It was all Zeal in the first 20 minutes and they took the lead when a corner taken by Scott Hooper found Tom Reilly at the far post and his shot screamed into the roof of the net, giving the Winkleigh keeper no chance. Ten minutes later Zeal went two up when again Harley Cann played Jerry Stephens through on goal. Jerry coolly rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home. It looked as if it was going to be an easy afternoon for Zeal, but Winkleigh dug in and started to make things more difficult for Zeal. However, the home side should have been four or five goals up by half time. The visitors had the strong wind at their backs in the second half but it made no difference to the flow of the game. Zeal continued to create chance after chance and the home side went three up when Jerry Stephens lobbed the keeper from 12 yards, the ball hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing over the line. Winkleigh put some pressure on Zeal in the last 15 minutes and only a great save from Adam Cann in the Zeal goal prevented them from reducing their deficit. However, in the end it was a comfortable win for the home side. This week home to Crediton, kick off 2.30pm.
