Football Express Cup

South Zeal United 3

Sandford 1

(after extra time)

SOUTH Zeal United went into this cup match looking to progress into the next round, on a day where they lacked players.

With just eleven players available coach Gazza Smith filled in at centre midfield. George Jeffery also made his first start for a year playing alongside Adam Clark as Zeal’s strikers.

Sandford. who play their league football in division five, one league higher than the home side, matched Zeal in the early exchanges. Both sides created a few decent scoring opportunities.

Darren Gilbert was a welcome return to the team, as once again it was his pace that the away team were unable to cope with.

Thirty minutes into the game the home side broke the deadlock. Eddy Jones’ long goal kick was met by a flicked header from Adam Clark, who found Samuel Jones out on the left wing; Samuel beat his man before pulling the ball back for eventual man of the match Adam Clark to stroke home the opener.

A scrappy midfield battle continued for much of the match, Tom Reilly and Gaz Smith holding their own against the opposition. A flurry of bookings was handed out by the referee. George Jeffery was shown the first of the yellow cards after a tussle with the Sandford back line.

Not long before the break, Sandford were able to pull themselves level when their striker found room to break through the otherwise solid backline of Ben Davey, Dan Wakeham, Lee Gilbert and Tom Boother. His eventual shot looped over the backpedalling keeper Eddy Jones to level at 1-1.

South Zeal had the better of the chances in the second half, but just could not convert. This took the game into extra time.

With no subs to make the home side had to dig deep. Darren Gilbert sent in a wonderful corner kick which was met by Tom Reilly. His superb header back across goal found the corner of the net.

Sandford began to press for the equaliser, pushing players forward. This left them vulnerable at the back.

Tom Boother sent a clinical pass down the left flank for Darren Gilbert to run on to, Zeal were now four on two charging forward. Darren calmly brought the ball into the opposing box before poking it past the keeper.