15.03.2008

Willand continued their fine run of form as they notched up another point with a 0-0 draw at home to Bitton. The hard work of the early morning team of volunteers whose time was spent forking the pitch was rewarded as the game went ahead despite constant rain throughout the game. Credit must be given to both sets of players who despite the appalling conditions, played some good football and they were overseen by a competent referee who never produced a card during the whole game. It was the visitors who had the games first chance and probably the best one. After being played clean though with only Brian Cann in the home goal to beat, Dave Bailey saw his shot hit the post and roll back across the face of goal and away to safety. Cann had to be at his vintage best on the half hour mark as he produced a top drawer save to keep the scores level, tipping away a wicked shot from Jake Hallet that resulted in a corner. Five minutes later it was the home side applying the pressure, this time Paul Pocock testing John Rendell in the visiting goal, but despite spilling the Willand strikers shot nobody was their to tap the ball home allowing Bitton to clear the ball away to safety. The home sides best chance fell to Sam Croft, following a Russell Jee corner on 52 minutes, the big centre half's powerful header looked destined for the top corner until Guy Coxs popped up to head it off the line. Croft again went close with his head, again from a Jee corner with a quarter of the game to go but this time he failed to find the target, the ball narrowly going over the cross bar. With Bitton having their fair share of the 1st half and the hosts having the better of the 2nd, a draw was probably a fair result, on a day that saw the return to action of a few absentees from recent weeks, notably that of the impressive David Hamby who combined with the ever improving Shaun Goff and centre half pairing of Simon Hill and Sam Croft make sure the home defence looks water tight.
Good Friday sees Chard Town as the visitors to the Stan Robinson Stadium who then travel to Bristol Manor Farm on the Saturday before the all important St Lukes Cup semi final against Bideford on the 25th March, the winners of that game will play the winners of this Tuesday game as Tiverton Town entertain Western League high fliers Dawlish Town.

Willand: Cann, McAuley, Hambly, Croft, Hill, Steele(c), Goff, Jee, Baily, Woodman(Ansell 63), Pocock
Subs: Patchett, Rogers(not used)

Bitton: Rendell, Warren, Hallet(c), McAlinden, Jones, Tilley, Coxs, Cherry, J Hallet, Bailey, Romdaine
Subs: Swaybe, Mallet, Collinwood

Referee: Peter Grenfell, Penzance

Star Man: David Hambly (Willand Rovers)