25.03.08

Bideford, St Lukes Cup

Willand Rovers scored three extra time goals to see off Bideford and book a place in the Final of this years Devon St. Lukes Bowl against Dawlish, a game that they will host at their Silver Street Ground On Tuesday May 6th. It was the North Devon side who enjoyed the greater share of the boil in normal time with home keeper Brian Cann being the busier of the two keepers. Cann saved three one-on-one situations, the best of which was the 89th minute ‘save’ he affected with his legs to deny James Densham. Rovers were strong and robust from Cann between the posts through to their excellent midfield behind who the back ‘five’ were – to a man – outstanding. As a result of both sides central defensive dominance neither set of forwards got too much of a look in. Densham caused the odd problem, hence Cann making this three one on one stops whilst at the other end former Rangers star Danny Baily was understandably muscled out of the Ariel challenges by the unforgiving Bideford central defenders but on the odd occasion he got it down and ran at the North Devon back line he looked a real threat. The game was played predominantly in the midfield and it was not until the closing minutes of normal time that visiting keeper Kenny Griffiths was called into serious action, although on 65 minutes Griffiths was grateful to Robbie Herrera when the right back made a dramatic overhead clearance just three yards from his goal line to deny Danny Baily. Extra time began with most of the large crowd seemingly expecting the tie to go all the way to a penalty shoot out as neither side looked able to open up the others defense until in the 102nd minute when a combination of second half substitutes James Ansell and Lee Woodman forced a Bideford defender to make an amazing clearance from under his bar. From the resultant Russell Jee corner that was delivered to the far post David Steele headed the ball back across goal and the outstanding Sam Croft climbed higher than anybody else to plant his header home from six yards. Within a minute it was 2-0 and again the initial source was a Jee set piece. His corner was delivered shorter than the previous one and when it fell to Croft he cleverly laid it back to Steels, who, although falling backwards unleashed a fierce drive that flew past Griffiths in to the top left hand corner of the net. That took the sides into extra time half time and almost immediately after the restart Steele found himself clear in the inside right channel and after drawing Griffiths he rolled the ball across the goal for Woodman to apply the finish. The visitors ended with ten men when Clay Bond was given a straight red for a two footed challenge.

29.03.08

Devizes Home.

A fine week for the 'Rovers was capped off with another 3 league points that sees them maintain third spot and get within 2 points of third placed Corsham Town. Despite rain and swirling winds, both teams to their credit played their part on a heavy pitch in an entertaining game that produced six goals. Good link up play between David Hambly and Paul Pocock presented Danny Baily with the 1st opening of the game but his shot fizzed wide after 21 minutes. Two minutes later it was a wayward clearance by Ian Patchett that gifted the visitors their best opening but were fortunate that Adam Giles blasted well wide with the goal at his mercy. Giles was not to miss his second 'gift' of the game as just seconds later a miss controlled clearance, this time from Gary McAuley allowed the Devizes front man to waltz into the box and fire the ball hard and low under the advancing Brain Cann in the Willand goal. Despite this set back Willand continued to press and Sam Croft was unfortunate to see his goalbound header cleared off the line before the impressive Baily went on a run setting up David Steele whose shot only found the arms of the 'keeper Roman Roncinsky on the half hour mark. The visitors were again to miss a good chance of increasing their lead nearing half time as a free kick from captain Darren Robison found Dan Sloan unmarked inside the area, but again the shot towards goal was wayward. Cann produced the save of the game on the stroke of half time as he tipped away a free kick, again from Robison around the post for a corner. Willand upped the tempo in the second half and virtually from the kick off drew level thanks to a spot kick from Paul Pocock. Devizes skipper Robison was again in the thick of the action but this time he was penalised for up ending Russell Jee in the box, leading to the well taken penalty from Pocock. Jee himself was unlucky not to be on the score sheet as his free kick on 52 minutes flashed past the post, with the 'keeper beaten. The home side nipped in front just past the hour after another good run from Baily saw him lay the ball back across the penalty area for Ian Patchett to hammer home goal number two. With twenty minutes to go Baily went on another mazy run into the visitors box and just when he looked like pulling the trigger and scoring up stepped David Steele who promptly stole his glory and thumped the ball into the roof of the net for goal number three. James Ansell made sure he got in on the action with a quarter of an hour to go, cheekily lobbing the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the area after an initial shot from Jee had been blocked. Adam Giles pulled the scoreline back to with in two goals as he netted his second of the game with just seven minutes remaining.

Willand: Cann, McAuley, Hambly. Croft, Patchett(Beech 74), Steele(Williams 79), Jee, Norrish(c), Ansell, Baily(Woodman 71) , Pocock
Goals: Pocock 47, Patchett 64, Steele 70, Ansell 75

Devizes: Roncinsky, Newman, Sartin, Robison(c), Trowbridge, Campbell, Turner, Drown, Giles, Sloan, Enderby
Subs: Campbell, Davies, Hale
Goals: Giles 24 & 83

Referee: Rigas Gatzianidis, Helston

Star Man: Danny Baily, Willand Rovers