By Dick Sturch

South Zeal United 9, Millwey Rise 1sts 1

Life for Mark Turner, the Millwey Rise manager, becomes more difficult week on week as no 11 players are ever the same through injury and unavailability.

Saturday's game at South Zeal was a prime example. Travelling with only 12 players, including several youngsters, Millwey conceded two goals in the first 10 minutes and it could have been more but for some great saves from their keeper Brett Garner.

Injury then struck once more when defender Imram Choudray had to go off and their only substitute came on to replace him.

South Zeal went further ahead a few minutes later before Rise managed to make any impression on the game. This eventually led to a great move and cross which Shane Featherstone headed home to reduce the arrears on the half hour. For the last quarter play play swung from end to end without any further score.

Any hope that Millwey would build on this goal in the second period was quickly quashed when, from the 15th to the 43rd minute, the home side added a further six goals despite Garner's best efforts to keep them out.

The nearest Rise got to reducing the deficit was a couple of long-range efforts from Sam Turner and Luke Thurlow. It was also obvious that key defender Alex Rockett was struggling with an injury and eventually left the field and midfielder Zak Meaker virtually ran himself into the ground by the end of the game.

The two sides meet again when South Zeal are next week's visitors to Cloakham Lawn (kick-off 2-15pm).

Millwey Rise 2nds 2, City Raiders AFC 2

Millwey Rise Reserves quickly put pressure on visitors City Raiders and after 10 minutes got the breakthrough they needed when Mark Pike calmly slotted home a Jack Bennett through ball.

It stayed that way until late in the half when the Raiders got back on level terms with a great strike from range that gave the Rise keeper no chance.

The second period saw the visitors quickly out of the blocks but it took Millwey the first quarter to get back into their rhythm. Although striving hard, they couldn't snatch the goal their play deserved.

This proved costly as it was Raiders who took the lead from a calmly despatched penalty to move ahead 2-1.

Rise were again facing another defeat and then to make matters worse, having used all three substitutes, they suffered another injury to Robin Brown.

Although down to 10 men they then drew level with a Jack Bennett wonder strike that has to be a contender for goal of the season. Brown bravely returned to the pitch putting his injury aside to assist Millwey's efforts to snatch a winner. A late shout for a penalty was waved away by the referee and the game finished 2-2.

Managers Terry Male and Mark Enticott awarded Mark Pike man-of-the-match for his tireless running.

They also had glowing praise for Sam Beviss who is proving to be a competent young player while Bailey Hall is growing into his new role as central defender.

Next week the team travel to Exeter Arena to play Whipton & Pinhoe.