Devon and Exeter three

Colaton Raleigh 3

THE home side started well on Saturday and went two up inside 20 minutes when one of their strikers turned the South Zeal defence inside the penalty area and finished well into the far corner.

The second came after a ball that should have been cleared by the visitors but was forced home at the near post to make it 2-0.

As the first half progressed South Zeal started to create some pressure but could not reduce the deficit before half time.

The visitors started well in the second half and scored when Harley Cann headed home a Redd Cann corner. However, against the run of play Colaton went 3-1 up when a corner was only partially cleared and a great volley from the edge of the penalty area gave Oliver Holman in the South Zeal goal no chance.

South Zeal kept the pressure on the Colaton defence and got back to 3-2 when Darren Gilbert latched onto a Daniel Gibbs through ball and rounded the keeper for a good finish.

With 15 minutes left the visitors pushed for the equaliser but could not find the net, missing several good chances, leaving the home side with a valuable three points.