Willand Rovers FC
The Toolstation League
WILLAND ROVERS FOOTBALL CLUB
Members of the Toolstation League http://www.toolstation.com
"very much a family club"
WEBSITE KINDLY SPONSORED BY WILLAND ROVERS YOUTH
The latest from Silver Street.....
Rovers set for game at Cullompton on Wednesday night / Todays (Sunday) Youth game is OFF / Odd Down game OFF - pitch fails morning inspection / Reserves OFF / Entire programme WIPED OUT / Rovers sign new player / Boss speaks on new signing the Brislington game / Rovers Under-13s (East) off on Sunday - Rovers (Taunton) still on / Cliff-Brown set for eight week lay-off / Legends on the phone! / Plymouth Argyle Legends set for silver Street in March /
See the photos from the Rovers 2-1 home defeat to BRISLINGTON at https://picasaweb.google.com/madmitch01/2012_01_28WILLANDROVERS1v2BRISLINGTON?feat=email#5702769881652695234 ROVERS are set for a WEDNESDAY night friendly at Speeds Meadow against CULLOMPTON RANGERS. Both sides were left without action yesterday and the respective Managers decided on this as an ideal opportunity to give their sides a run-out. Kick off at Speeds Meadow on Wednesday night is 7.30pm. Rovers boss Clive Jones says: "It's good of Bucksie (Cully Rangers boss and former Rovers assistant manager Peter Buckingham) to agree to this. Mind you I think he feels his lot need a game as much as I want to get my lads playing. We need to play as we have some big games coming up and this gives us an ideal opportunity to gel the new lads into the team and also have a look at one or two things." Today's youth game is OFF - the Wembdon game will now be re-arranged for later in the season. THE game at ODD DOWN is OFF owing to a frozen pitch, much of the Toolstation League top flight action is also OFF today. Indeed NOT ONE Toolstation League top flight game survived the weather.
The RESERVES game today is OFF owing to th Silver Street pitch being frozen solid. Light snow was falling and it was MINUS TWO DEGREES at Silver Street at 09:30 hours today! THE Rovers (East) game at Honiton Town on Sunday morning is OFF - a decision on the Rovers (Taunton) game will be made on Sunday morning - and news posted here at 10am on Sunday. ROVERS HAVE signed DARREN HAWKINGS and Manager Clive Jones is delighted to have finally got a player he has admired for a long time, to Silver Street. The 36-year-old centre half has a wealth of experience and has won countless honours in a distinguished non-league career. The Rovers boss said: "Darren has been there, done it and, I have no doubt got countless t-shirts to prove it. He is quality with a capital Q and will bring added strength and solidity to our central defence. I had hoped that we'd have Beechy (Lloyd Beech) back by now but the young lads injury does not seem to be clearing for him and the ideal scenraio, once I got wind that Darren might be available, was to get him in. A key part of his game is status, he commands respect but also has something of a unique charachter and, as such, he'll be perfect to get involved on, and off the pitch. He is a leader on the turf and I am sure we will benefit from his experience and presence." Rovers boss Clive Jones looked back on the defeat to Brislington and lamented: “I honestly did not see that coming. I know I tinkered with the formation, but at half-time there was nothing to indicate that it wasn’t working, we were a goal up and, whilst not in over-drive, we were in charge of the game so it was very disappointing to then lose it 2-1. It’s rare for this Rovers team to lose and even rarer for them to lose having been ahead and seemingly in the box seat! For my part I have to confess to being a miserable sod post match and I bless the Mrs (Carol) for not being too put out by it! What irked me more than anything was what I saw as an apparent air of resignation post match in the dressing room, it seemed a case of the fact we lost really did not hurt too many, too badly, and that is so unlike my lads. I know the Brislington defeat came at the end of a bad week what with the FA Vase defeat, but it hurt me big time not to see any real post-match reaction. Of course I don’t wish to see fisticuffs of nastiness but I would love to see people show it cared as much as it cared to me! We are not out of the title race for to concede that now would be churlish as we still have a lot of points to play for, but we have a tough run-in and if this set of players want to go down in history as the first to land the biggest trophy many of them will ever have the honour of playing for, then we simply cannot afford any more slip-ups starting with Saturday’s visit to Odd Down. I’d like to think, no, I’ll rephrase that, I expect the team to deliver a response after back to back defeats, I know they are good enough of. I would not have got them here at Silver Street if they weren't and I know they also look around the dressing room and see sufficient quality in there, so now is the time for the boys to stand up and be counted. There’s so much work going on behind the scenes at my football club, people striving in their own areas to make the club a bigger and better one, and one of the key things we, as the team can do, is produce performances and deliver results that make those good people working so hard, have something to celebrate and enjoy. I hate losing – I can abide it simply coz you have to in the game we all love. It’s part of it, but what I can’t abide is people who don’t mind losing, don’t feel the pain, that’s a football crime – hopefully I’ll enjoy better post match feelings this Saturday.”
The boss continued: “ I would like to commend the groundstaff again for their extreme efforts in getting the Silver Street surface ready for Saturday’s game. I know the Sunday morning efforts of Rob Mitchell in particular were much appreciated by the Rovers Youth who had such a splendid result – and performance – on Sunday afternoon making it through to the last four of the Taunton Youth League Under-13 KO Cup semi-final. I enjoy my Sunday afternoon’s watching the boys play and would urge anyone with nothing to do this Sunday to get along and watch them play Wembdon (kick off is at 2.30pm).”
ROVERS slipped to a very disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Brislington. This depsite leading 1-0 at the break thanks to a superbly executed Perry Carpenter free-kick in the 32nd minute. Eight minutes later the depth of thecross bar denied Dean Stamp a spectacular second when his scissors kick beat the keepers dive but struck the top side of the bar. Brislington, who had pace up top and carried a threat throughout, levelled in the 57th minute whenthe lively Danny Coombes got past the otherwise once again mercurial Ben Mammola. The winning goal arrived in the 65th minute when Simon Hill hauled down Luke Meacham and the referee, after issuing a red card, pointed to the spot and Mike Rimmer tucked the ball in the bottom corner. Rovers sent on all three substitutes with James Ansell, Danny Baily and Khaled Badavi all on for George Rogers, Danny Jee and Russell Jee. Within a minute of coming on Baily needed treatment for a facial injury. The visiting keeper was not too hard worked in the final 15 minutes as Rovers slipped to a very disappointing defeat.
BITTON are the new leaders after a 2-1 win at Odd Down (who Rovers visit next Saturday). Larkhall and Bristol Manor Farm drew 1-1 whilst Merthyr Town beat Wells City 4-1 and Bishop Sutton won 6-1 at Sherborne. Corsham beat Bridport 2-0 and Hallen won 1-0 at Street whilst Barnstaple Town were 3-1 winners over Radstock Town and Ilfracombe Town won 2-0 at Longwell Green.
WE HAVE UPDATED our Club-by-Club guide to include the final Saturday of January matches. Check it out now to see how all the other Toolstation League clubs are doing both with current, and season-long form.
THE ROVERS Reserves went down 5-1 at Seaton Town on Saturday - read Martin Stocker's match report now on the Rovers Reserves match reports page.
ROVERS have signed JAMIE SKINNER from Barnstaple Town and the new man will make his debut in tomorrow's home game with Brislington (3pm). Exeter based Skinner is a player that Rovers boss Clive Jones has tracked for a couple of seasons. The boss says: "I am delighted to have finally got Jamie on board. I have been an admirer of his for a considerable time and previously it has not happened. I had felt in recent weeks that we, as a team, need a lift - something of shake-up and I feel Jamie coming in will help with that process. He will start against Brislington. He's a central midfield play-maker and will provide us with that little bit 'extra' that I feel has been missing of late. I think there will be other changes too - I'll make the final decision on other changes when we see what sort of weather we have for the game and indeed what sort of a surface we have to play on. It's been a tough week for the hard-working ground staff at Silver Street and I seriously value their work. Hours have been spnt on (a) getting thr pitch back from last Saturday's exertions and (b) getting it ready for tomorrow."
CARL CLIFF-BROWN has been put into a protective splint so that he can get to his work BUT there will be no football for the popular hit-man for the next EIGHT WEEKS after a midweek visit to Hospital confirmed the fears that last Saturday's FA Vase injury was in fact ruptured knee ligaments. However, boss Clive Jones has spoken to Carl who remains upbeat about the situation and vows to get back to football AND ROVERS as soon as the knee allows!
ROVERS BOSS Clive Jones says that since news broke of the Sunday, March 25th game against PLYMOUTH ARGYLE LEGENDS his phone has not stopped rininging! He says: "Legends are coming out of the woodwork saying they want to play! I think we are going to have some fun with this on. I want lots of people involved as this project is all about raising money for the ADAM STANSFIELD FOUNDATION."
That game on Saturday sets Rovers up against a side who they have NEVER lost to, home or away in the Western League! It's a remarkable stat as Satyrday is also the 14th time the two teams will go head to head in league games. Boss Clive Jones says: "After the disappointment of Staveley it's not abad thing to have another home game so quickly as it does give us a chance to restore a bit of the feel-good factor for the Rovers faithful. We must stay fully focussed on the fact that, despite the FA Vase disappointment, we are still well placed in the League and need to win this next game."
Boss Clive Jones spoke with the Rovers website a couple of days after the dust settled on the 3-1 FA Vase defeat to Staveley. He said: "It still hurts even now. On Saturday night I was unsure if I was simply just plain disappointed, angry, or both! I came to the conclusion it was both. Sadly I seem to sound like a cracked record at this time of the season. I recall last year lamenting the Vase defeat at Dunstable and I am left feeling the same 12 months on! Could, indeed, should we have done better on Saturday - YES - okay, they (Staveley) were a well organised team who clearly knew what they were doing but, come full-time, I couldn't help thinking that if they were in the Tooolstation League then they, realistically, would probably be in that second tier of clubs just below the five or six who consider themsleves title contenders. We chose the worst possible day to turn in a shit that, collectively, with only the odd excpetion, was simply not of the sufficient quality to bag us a last 16 place in the FA Vase. As is always the case you then see the Monday afternoon draw and begin to think what if? (The two hot favourites Whitley Bay and West Auckland Town were drawn together, Staveley got a home tie with Oadby Town and Larkhall wilkl travel to Herne Bay). I think what hurt the most was that had we been able to produce the sort of individual and collecitve performances I know that this team has in its locker, then we'd still be in the competition. Let's take nothing away from Staveley who did a number on us, but I still can't help thinking we helped create our ultimate downfall. Of course losing Carl like we did was a huge blow. The big fellah has become a key part of our striking effort, especially in big games. I have no complaint about the match official who, in general I felt had a fine game. No, if there's any one thing to look to blame then it must fall at our feet. I did plenty of soul searching both on Saturday night and again on Sunday and came to the conclusion that perhaps we do need to freshen things up with a new face or two - towards that end I have begun to make a call or three an dhope to have somebody in sooner rather than later. One thing that is clear to me is that we cannot afford to let the Vase defeat drag us down further. We must not lose sight of the fact that we are still top of the Toolstation League and we retain an interest in the Les Phillips Cup so there remains much to play for this season."
Rovers had two youth sides in action on Sunday. First up Matt Mitchell's Rovers (East) won their Wellman Cup Quarter FInal 3-0 and then, in the afternoon the Rovers Under-12 team, playing their first ever game together under coaches Simon Fry and Daniel Biss, beat Minehead 3-0. SEE THE UNDER12 and UNDER13 pages now for reports on both games from the coaches.
Rovers look set to be without the influental striker Carl Cliff-Brown for th considerable future. The popular hit-man was injured in an early match incident against Staveley that led to th opposing team player being yellow carded whilst CCB limpd out of the action shortly afterwards. Speaking the day after the FA Vase defeat and just before he referee'd one of the Rovers Youth games, boss Clive Jone said: "His knee was not where it was meant to be when he came over to the dugout. It was horrible to see. Typical of the big fellah h insisted on a strapping to see if he could get on but there was no way - that much was clear. He'd have played through th pain barrierbut it's never worth risking somone's long term health in such circumstances.
ROVERS slipped out of the FA Vase beaten 3-1 by Stqaveley MW in a game that the Silver Street men really ought to have won. That they did not could well be laid at the door iof a 1st half incident that was to change the course of the game. The visiting skipper, Tom Jones, hauled down a free-running Carl Cliff Brown in the 17th minute. Fortunate to only see a yellow card - given that he was the'last man', it was just seven minutes later that the popular Rovers hitman limped out of the action. A second blow struck just before the break when Jake Wannell pulled up, instantly signalling to the bench that he needed replacing. There were first half chances for Rovers although the visitors ought to have scored first, their centre forward Ryan Damms failing to connect in the 2nd minute. Two minutes later James Ansell struck the side netting. The nearest the game came to a first half goal was Dean Stamp's 38th minute free kick which crashed against the bar only to bounce down - and away! At half time someone remarked that it was sods law that the'winner' would arrive courtesy of the individual who might well have seen red for the challenge on Carl Cliff-Brown! Indeed that is exactly what happened as the visitors made a much brighter start to the second half, forced four quick corners and then took a 53rd minute lead when the ball was slammed through a crowd of players and past an un-sighted Brian Cann from 25 yards by Stavely skipper Jones. Strangely, Rovers never got going after the break and a second goal was conceded in thr 74th minute when the Staveley number 11, Andrew Fox skipped down the flank and cut the ball back for Damms to put a second past Cann. Hope sprang eternal in the 84th minute when Damnny Jee headed Rovers back into it but there was to be no gung-ho all-out assault on the visitors goal and insult was added to injury when Staveley sub Dave Cockerill thumped a speculative shot from the half-way line that looped its way back over the head of Brian Cann. So more FA Vase disappointment for Rovers who, in the first 45 minutes, looked to have comfortably got the better of the Northern Counties East League visitors. However, after the break it was a seemingly very different Rovers who were forced to defend the club house goal for long periods. The introduction of Khaled Badavi did have an eeffcet and, in the dying seconds, a tremendous over-head kick effort from the once again outstanding Ben Mammola, was deflected wide of the mark. Had that gone in and extra-time played - who knows? But then, had CCB not been felled as he was, and been able to play for longer than the 17 minutes he managed, surely Rovers would have emerged victorious. So the FA Vase journey for another season is de-railed. Now it's back to the Toolstation League - and the not so small matter of the Les Phillips Cup - 'Come on Rovers'.
IN the other two FA Vase games involving Toolstation League sides Bitton went dfown 3-1 to West Auckland but larkhall kept the league flag flying with a 3-2 win at Reading Town.
In the league there was a surprise defeat for Hallen, beaten for the first time this league term at home, 3-1 by Bristol Manor Farm and a surprise win for Sherborne who beat next Saturday's Silver Street visitors, Brislington 1-0. Merthy won 5-1 at hoem to Street, Bridport won 5-4 at Radstock and Odd Dopwn beat Barnstaple Town 3-0. Ilfracombe and Corsham drew 0-0 and Wells City drew 1-1 with Longwel Green
ROVERS Reserves twice led at THORVERTON in their Fresha League game. Sam Williams had fired them into a 1-0 half-time lead and then Chris White made it 2-1 twenty minutes fro time but two goals inside the final ten minutes consiged the side to a narrow defeat - READ A MATCYH REPORT AND POST MATCH COMMENT NOW ON THE Reserves match reports page.
Rovers had their final training session before the big game and boss Clive Jones said: “It was a good work-out. The bys look in a good place at the moment. Confidence is high despite the obvious blow of dropping those two points at Longwell Green last time put. Training was crisp, the players were bubbling and it doesn’t need me to tell that them that opportunity knocks. The local weekly paper reports this week my feelings about the competition and the disappointment still etched on yours truly from that two game battle with Barwell a couple of seasons ago that saw us edged out. The players are also very aware that I bang on about that particular Rovers team being my best yet – and that’s quite a marker to throw down to the team we send out on Saturday against what I am sure will, be a more than competent outfit. Staveley may not have a rich FA Vase pedigree but their league form this season is very good, they are up to second in the table having been sixth or seventh when the draw was made and they have stated their intent with a bid for promotion to the next level up – so this has the makings of a classic cup tie. I am pretty sure of my starting line-up, there’s one or two things to look at on matchday itself but I am sure that who ever I send out to start, backed up by the lads on the bench who I don’t doubt will be chomping at then bit to get involved, will give their al for the cause and I hope we get a decent crowd into Silver Street to help them on their way!”
Rovers conceded an 89th minute goal at LONGWELL GREEN to drop two points as the game ended 1-1. Dean Stamp had put Rovers head thirty seconds before half-time with his 17th goal of the season. It was a goal created by Jake Wannell who took a wonderful cross-field pass from Danny Baily before motoring to the bye line and pulling it back for Stamp to slam it home with his right foot. Russell Jee, Dave Hambly and Khaled Badavi were all summoned from the bench and it looked as if Rovers would be returning to Devon with alll three points before that late, late leveller. Rovers team: Cann, Wannell, Hill, Mammola, Patchet, Ansell, D Jee, Norrish, Carpenter, Baily, Stamp: Subs: Badavi, R Jee, Hambly
In other matches LARKHALL were 4-0 winners at home to SHERBORNE, BITTON beat ILFRACOMBE 2-0 and BISHOP SUTTON saw off RADSTOCK 3-2. STREET beat BRISTOL MANOR FARM 3-0 and HALLEN won 1-0 at BARNSTAPLE TOWN. The other game ended WELLS CITY 0 ODD DOWN 0.
ROVERS Reserves gained a fabulosu point with a 0-0 draw at Fresha League leaders Seaton Town. Check out the Rovers Reserves' match Reports page for Julian Stocker's report.
SILVER Street is set to play host to the PLYMOUTH ARGYLE LEGENDS XI with news that the Argyle Legends will be coming to Willand on Sunday, March 25th for a game against a Willand Rovers & Mid Devon legends XI. The game will have a 2.30pm kick off and all the admission money is going to be presented to the ADAM STANSFIELD FOUNDATION after the charity supported the Rovers youth section’s bid to purchase portable floodlighting units. Rovers boss Clive Jones is set to be in charge of the Rovers & Mid Devon veterans XI.
FOR RECENT NEWS THAT HAS APPEARED HERE ON THE FRONT PAGE SEE THE ARCHIVED NEWS PAGE
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