Bill Slee cup

(after extra time)

Dawlish Utd 5

SOUTH Zeal produced a sterling display in defence of the Bill Slee cup that they won last year but went out of the competition in a close game at Dawlish on Saturday.

The home side played some nice football in the early stages but never really troubled Zeal's defense, with Tom Reilly and Lee Gilbert outstanding.

The visitors took a deserved lead after 20 minutes when Jamie Mallett robbed one of the Dawlish centre backs and finished well from close range and Zeal could have been three up at half time but Redd and Harley Cann both saw efforts go just wide.

For 20 minutes of the first half Zeal looked secure but Dawlish equalised when a cross from the left was headed home from close range and took the lead with a scrappy goal 10 minutes from time.

In an effort to get back into the game the visitors pushed forward and were rewarded when Harley Cann, Stuart Entwistle and Jamie Mallett combined to set up Redd Cann who guided his shot past the Dawlish keeper to make the score 2-2. With five minutes of normal time left Zeal nearly snatched the winner when a cross from Redd Cann was almost headed home by Harley but the effort just went past the post..

In the first period of extra time it was all South Zeal but they went 3-2 down when Reg Wonnacott and Lee Gilbert collided trying to clear a high cross leaving an easy finish for one of the Dawlish forwards. However, Zeal never stopped trying and equlised from the penalty spot through Redd Cann after Harley Cann was tripped from behind in the penalty area.

Dawlish went 4-3 up after scoring from close range and as the clock moved towards the end of extra time the away team pushed on for the equaliser but several chances went just wide and Dawlish made the game safe with a soft penalty just before the end of extra time..