THE ROVERS SEASON 2009/10

NOW FOR THAT REVIEW OF THE 2009/10 ROVERS SEASON: THE 2009/10 season can rightly be etched into the historical fabric of Willand Rovers Football Club as being one of the, if not actually the, best the club has ever had. A record breaking run in the FA Vase, a Finance boosting surge in the FA Cup that involved playing seven ties in the world famous competition..The season began badly! So badly indeed that come the final reckoning it could be argued that the title was actually lost in the first three hours of the League season for it is then that Rovers lost 1-0 at STREET on the opening day and then slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to ILFRACOMBE in the first home game. The second Saturday of the season served up the opening Cup tie and, ironically, by a quirk of the fixture computer and Cup draw we were left facing the same side we had opened the League campaign against seven days before! We drew 2-2 with Street and so needed a mid week replay – our third meeting with Street in the first ten days of the new season! Young George Rogers struck a last minute free-kick in the replay at Street that too us through. Back to the League on the third Saturday of the season and a 2-0 home win over BRISTOL MANOR FARM with a first ever goal for the side from a young striker who pitched dup at pre-season training, Joel Hawes. The final two games of the first were month both ended in draws as we drew 1-1 ain a midweek engagement at BIDEFORD and then drew on the following Saturday in an FA Cup tie at FALMOUTH TOWN. The replay against the Cornish side the following midweek became what was to be the first of numerous games, home and away, that would need to be cancelled owing to the wet weather in the season. A 2-2 draw at home to SHERBORNE was then followed with a 2-1 FA Cup replay win over FALMOUTH and that game was followed by an appearance in the next Round just four days later when a second half penalty from Russell Jee saw us to a thrilling victory over POOLE TOWN and with that a place in the next Round of the FA Cup at home to Bath City. After the Cup win a midweek trip to BARNSTAPLE TOWN produced a 1-0 win and then a 4-0 success at RADSTOCK that saw Dean Stamp bag a brace and other goals arrive from Carl Cliff-Brown and David Steele. There was a big build up to the BATH CITY FA Cup tie but, on the day, it all went horribly wrong as the Pirates plundered five goals before the half-time break! Just three days after the Bath hiding the team produced the best football a Rovers side had, on that night, dished up for some time (that’s what the travelling fans said who saw the game). Rovers won 3-0 at ILFRACOMBE and played the hosts off the park as Danny Jee, Steele and Stamp all netted. October began with their first game in the seasons FA Vase, a 5-2 home win over NEWQUAY and that game was followed by a 0-0 draw at home to BIDEFORD and another home game, a 2-0 win over BRISLINGTON. The month of October ended poorly as the draw at Bitton which saw the end of the five match run without conceding a goal, was followed by a 2-1 home defeat to lowly Barnstaple Town – the North Devon side left Silver Street with the points for only their second win of the season – and then ended the month with back-to-back 2-2 draws, at home to Bishop Sutton, and at Sherborne on Halloween. November began with a marked return to form as Rovers impressively set about beating a Larkhall side who had topped the table ten days previously. An early own goal was added to by one from James Ansell and it was the same player who provided the 'assist' for Carl-Cliff Brown to score the 2nd half goal that sealed a 3-0 win. The FA Vase tie at Longwell Green on November 14th was postponed owing to waterlogged pitch and re-scheduled for Wednesday November 18th – and the tie turned out to be one that went the distance - Longwell Green led 1-0 before a double change at the start of the 2nd half paid dividends with one of the subs, Paul Pocock, marking his return from a season long injury with the equalising goals and then Carl Cliff-Brown netted for the third game to give Rovers the lead. Back came the hosts to take the game into extra-time and the winner arrived courtesy of David Steele in the first minute of the second half of that extra time. November 21st saw Rovers at Welton Rovers, a side they had never lost to in eight previous Western League meetings but they trailed 1-0 and were eight minutes from defeat when the Referee called the game off as the conditions got impossible for play to continue. The game following the Welton abandonment was a Les Phillips Cup tie at PORTISHEAD that was postponed and so the began December with another FA Vase tie, a home game with WELTON ROVERS that produced a stunning performance and a 6-1 win young striker Joel Hawes hitting four, Carl Cliff-Brown one and Sam Croft, who scored the 5th minute opener, also scored as Rovers scored five in the first half to book a 4th Round FA Vase place for the first time in the club's history. The final game before Christmas was played on Friday December 18th and saw them edge out STREET 2-1. Carl Cliff-Brown put Rovers ahead, they took that into half-time but Street levelled from the spot before Tom Stocco, one of three second half substitutes, rifled in a 95th minute winner. Centre half Ben Mammola picked up his 2nd red card of the season in the game. The final game of 2009 saw Rovers travel to DAWLISH TOWN for a Devon derby looking to continue a remarkable record of having won EVERY BOXING DAY GAME in the past ten years! They did it again with goals from Danny Jee and Joel Hawes - the latter becoming the second Rovers player to hit double figures this season. That Festive game at Dawlish proved to be the last action for a while for Rovers as they had home games with Wellington and Hallen called off as was the January 9 visit to Corsham and the Jan 16 FA Vase 4th Round tie against Causeway United of the Midland Alliance League. Rovers finally returned to action after 24 days without a game when they won 1-0 at Portishead in a 1st Round Les Phillips Cup tie, the winning goal coming in the 90th minute from substitute Joel Hawes. The FA Vase run continued with a 2-0 win over Causeway United on January 23rd - Sam Croft headed home the games opening goal just five minutes from time and skipper Rob Norrish was quickest to react when the Causeway keeper made a fine save to keep out David Steele's 90th minute penalty. Three days later Rovers returned to Toolstation League action with a game at Bristol Manor Farm. A case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show - or perhaps the fact that influential centre-back Sam Croft was missing - and Rovers were two down at the break but they stormed back in the second half to level and nearly won it having two shots cleared off the line in the closing stages. Shaun Goff stroked home a 76th minute penalty to get Rovers back into the game and George Rogers, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, rifled the equaliser from the edge of the box in the 83rd minute. The final game of January took Rovers to Bishop Sutton where they went ahead in the 4th minute through Joel Hawes. The hosts levelled just before the break but Rovers claimed the points midway through the second half courtesy of an own goal. The FA Vase 5th Round tie against Midland Football Alliance Barwell on February 6th produced a two hour epic which ended 2-2. The home side twice battled back from being behind before drawing 2-2 - and they rattled the crossbar in the final minutes. James Ansell rifled in a first half equaliser and David Steele finished off a superb team move for the second leveller. On Wednesday, February 10th Rovers won 2-0 at DAWLISH TOWN in the Devon Bowl to set up a meeting at home to Mid Devon rivals Tiverton Town in the next round. Skipper Rob Norrish and Shaun Goff scored the second half goals that delivered another win for Clive Jones' side. The FA Vase dream ended at Barwell on February 13th when, despite scoring first with David Steele netting his 8th of the season, the home side levelled early in the second half and won it in extra time. Just four days after the Barwell disappointment, Rovers were back on the road, heading up the M5 for HALLEN and a meeting in the Les Phillips Cup. The hosts won the game with a second half penalty and a late own goal consigning Rovers to a second successive defeat. After the back to back defeats Rovers looked to the League campaign to return to wining ways. They trailed BITTON 1-0 but an equaliser on the hour from Joel Hawes then saw them go on to win with a last minute winner from second half substitute Tom Stocco. The next two games, a midweek trip to Welton and a home game with Melksham, the latter on the final Saturday of February, were both washed out. March began with a home meeting with HALLEN on the 5th and this saw Rovers turn on the style, recording a 5-1 win and what was most impressive perhaps was that five different scorers found the net! James Ansell, Carl Cliff-Brown, David Norrish, David Steele and Paul Pocock, all scored. Three days later a swift return with Hallen, up at their place and again Rovers came out on top as goals from Rob Norrish, David Steele and James Ansell secured a 3-1 win. A third game in early March took Rovers to Welton where they slipped behind to a 5th minute goal but battled back to deservedly end the night level at 1-1. David Steele's 25th minute goal, his eleventh of the season and the third successive game that he had found the net. On March 13th Rovers entertained struggling CALNE TOWN and found them a tough nut to crack – keeper Brian Cann had to make an exceptional save before Danny Jee netted the opening goal and it was not until the second half that goals from Sam Croft and a penalty from Carl Cliff-Brown – the 5th different successful penalty taker this season for the side, made the game safe. Calne scored in the final minute from the penalty spot. Next up another 3-1 win as neighbours WELLINGTON were beaten at Silver Street thanks to goals from Danny Jee, Rob Norrish and James Ansell. A nap hand next with a 5-0 win at MELKSHAM. Skipper Rob Norrish continued his run of scoring with the opener and there was a goal for the third game in a row for Danny Jee. Joel Hawes started on then bench but came on to bag a second half double and the other goal was scored by Paul Pocock. Pocock was a scorer in the next game, the March 24th outing at LARKHALL which saw Rovers twice lead before having to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw. David Steele also notched - that his 12th of the season. On March 27th they faced WELTON for the third time this season and once again got the better of the visitors, beating them 1-0 thanks to a 41st minute goal from Joel Hawes - his 16th of the season. The final game of March was on Monday the 29th and a Devon Bowl game with near neighbours TIVERTON TOWN. The game ended 2-2 after extra-time on a very heavy pitch. Skipper Rob Norrish and Dean Stamp netted for Rovers who were then pipped 5-4 in a penalty shoot out that went to sudden death. The weather then forced successive home postponements as Silver Street games with Radstock and Dawlish were called off. Easter Monday saw Rovers make the short trip to Wellington for what is traditionally a derby game. Dean Stamp's 12th of the season in the second minute and a first of the term from central defender Ben Mammola saw Rovers to a 2-0 win. Next up was an April 7th trip to the 'in-form' CORSHAM TOWN which saw George Rogers crash one in from 25-yards in the first half after which Joel Hawes netted a brace, his 17th and 18th of the season and skipper Rob Norrish netted his 8th in the final minute to seal a 4-0 win. Three days later and another trip to Wiltshire, and another win as a Dean Stamp double saw Rovers win 2-0 at Calne Town. On April 13th, at home to Longwell Green, Rovers trailed 1-0 and 2-1 but a hat-trick from Carl Cliff-Brown, the final one seven minutes from time, sealed a priceless win for his side. 48 hours after the Longwell Green win they were again in action against RADSTOCK and it needed a Dean Stamp goal - his 15th of the season - to claim the points in a game that saw them end with ten men after Danny Jee was sent off for two yellow cards. On April 17 Rovers hosted Corsham who they were leading 3-0 through goals from David Steele, Carl Cliff-Brown (pen) and Paul Pocock, when a visiting player suffered a nasty injury in the 65th minute. Play was held up and after a lengthy delay the Referee wanted to re-start the game but the Corsham Manager was reluctant to play and the Referee had no choice other than to abandon the game. Next up a midweek trip to BRISLINGTON which produced a 3-1 win thanks to a double from Joel Hawes and an own goal. Rovers sealed the runners-up berth - but probably ended their outside hopes of taking the title race beyond the final Saturday of the season, with a 0-0 Silver Street draw with MELKSHAM TOWN on April 22nd. It was that blank sheet against the Wiltshire side that effectively ended the brave title bid – leaving Rovers to negotiate two more games, a Saturday, April 24 trip to LONGWELL GREEN that ended 0-0 and a Monday night game at home to Dawlish rivals. In this game the home faithful were treated to the most stunning of goals, struck with missile like precision by Dean Stamp to fire the side ahead. Dawlish levelled shortly after the re-start but, typical of such a season, Rovers kept plugging away, refusing to accept a third successive end of season draw, and, in the last minute of the final game of a 55 game season, Mike Humphreys got on the end of an Ian Patchett long ball to tuck it home and seal a 2-1 win.