FOOTBALL: Middlezoy Rovers fight back to draw with Clevedon United

MIDDLEZOY Rovers extended their unbeaten run as they fought back to share the spoils with Clevedon United on Saturday.

Zoy made a lethargic start, with the heat looking like it was having an effect, but still they had more of the early chances, with Jed Williams twice failing to find the net when well placed.

Yet they fell behind on the half-hour as they gifted the home side the opening goal.

Goalkeeper Greg Turner received the ball wide on his 18-yard box and a poor kick fell to the Clevedon centre-back, and with Turner out of his goal the Clevedon player smashed the ball into the empty net from 40 yards out.

This goal woke Zoy up, and they began to take the game to Clevedon.

First Dan Luce picked the ball up in midfield and drove at the Clevedon defence, before seeing his shot from the edge of the box tipped round the post.

Then Jamie Temlett cut in from his wing and also saw his shot well saved.

The equaliser finally came just before half-time, as Aaron Whaites won the ball back high up the pitch and played in Williams, who turned his man to roll the ball into the path of Adam Long, who picked out the bottom corner of the goal.

The visitors started the second half brightly and on 55 minutes they should have gone ahead, as a delightful cross from Whaites found Temlett at the back post, but his shot from three yards out was somehow saved.

This proved costly, as five minutes later a counter-attack down the Zoy left resulted in the ball being cut back and smashed home by the Clevedon centre forward.

Going behind for a second time seemed to kill Zoy’s confidence, as they struggled to get going again and forced their final balls.

But on 70 minutes they did managed to get back into the game, Charlie Lintell crossing for Charlie White to head home.

With 20 minutes to play it was Zoy who looked like they would be the ones to snatch victory, but they couldn’t find a way through the stubborn Clevedon defence.

With two minutes left, a loose ball in the box fell to Luce, his shot from the angle was well saved, and as the rebound trickled along the six-yard box it just needed a Zoy player to tap home – but there was no-one there and the chance was gone.

Man of the match: Charlie White & Aaron Whaites

Having won one and drawn three so far this season, Middlezoy host Nailsea & Tickenham this Saturday (ko 3pm).

The visitors to the Aerodrome have won one and drawn two so far to sit fifth in the early season standings, just one place behind Zoy.

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Uhlsport Somerset County League
Division 2
Middlezoy Reserves 4, Brislington Reserves 0

NEWLY-PROMOTED Middlezoy Rovers Reserves made it three wins from three in Division 2, beating Brislington Reserves 4-0 on a glorious summer afternoon.

Zoy were looking to get off to a fast start and stamp some authority on the game, and that is exactly what happened.

Inside the first minute Craig Wright turned his defender and played in Danny Lismore, whose first-time shot was well saved by the Brislington goalkeeper.

The hosts continued to dominate possession, and in the 10th minute Wright took a quick free-kick, playing a one-two with Tom Cowd, then slipped past the defender to rifle the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

The referee called for a welcome drinks break after 25 minutes, and soon after that the hosts had the ball in the net again, as Carl Tucker’s high pressing from midfield enabled him to steal the ball from the defender and calmly slot the ball home.

It was 3-0 early on in the second half, as Zoy were rewarded again for their high pressing.

A Brislington defender tried a blind pass back to his keeper, only for Wright – lurking behind him – to nip in and score his second via the post.

Zoy made three changes to freshen things up, and in the 75th minute they went four up thanks to the impressive Tyler Atyeo, who outsprinted the defender from an Adam Prescott clearance to slot home and really put the result beyond doubt.

Man of the match: Tyler Atyeo

This Saturday, Middlezoy Reserves travel to Portishead Town Reserves, hoping to continue their good start to the season (ko 3pm).