Premier and First Division Cup

Bishops Lydeard 4 Middlezoy Rovers 0

MIDDLEZOY failed to register a goal for the first time this season and paid a heavy price, going down to a well organised and effective Premier Division side.

Doubles from Mark Clunie and Joe Chamberlain fired the hosts into the next round as Zoy struggled to deal with the movement of the Lydeard front four.

The opener came on 11 minutes, when a deep cross was hit first time into the top corner by Clunnie - an excellent forward move from the home side.

In truth, Middlezoy were hanging on in the early stages and only a superb save from goalkeeper Greg Turner prevented Chamberlain extending Lydeard's lead.

It took Middlezoy 20 minutes to create their first chance when Charlie Lintell was sent through on goal from left back, but he scuffed his shot horribly wide with the keeper to beat. This seemed to spark Middlezoy into life and they enjoyed a host of further chances before the break, but were unable to find a breakthrough.

A last ditch tackle prevented Max Cushing from equalising and Craig Wright had two sighters, before his free-kick was tipped over the bar as Lydeard held onto their lead going in at the break.

As Middlezoy started the second-half well inside the Lydeard half, the next goal became crucial and went the way of the hosts, following a long ball forward, Chamberlain raced through to slot home.

Wright then volleyed wide for Zoy and Cushing's strong penalty appeal was waved away as Lydeard held on to their clean sheet.

With Zoy pushing men forward to try and salvage something, they played into the hands of the Lydeard pace going forward and were undone again on 70 minutes when the unmarked Chamberlain scored his second of the afternoon from close range.

Turner then saved again from Chamberlain, before Clunie completed the scoring in the final minutes when his weaving run passed four defenders resulted in a fourth for the hosts.

A tough lesson for Middlezoy, who were outsmarted for large parts, but they can take credit for creating a number of good opportunities against a side that have now kept nine clean sheets in their last ten games.

Team: GTurner, LTurner (Prescott), Brown, Horsey, Lintell, Jennings, Luce (Tucker), Smith, Wright, Temlett, Cushing.

Star Man: Mark Clunnie - Bishops Lydeard