22.01.2008 Willand Rovers v Bishop Sutton

Match: Willand Rovers v Bishop Sutton

Result: 1-0 away win

Date: Tuesday 22nd January 2008.

Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier

Venue: Silver Street, Willand

Weather: Cold and damp

Conditions: Good

Crowd: 56

Ground Appearance: Good

Referee: Kevin Knowles, Falmouth

Willand Rovers were beaten on Tuesday Night, in their first gave for over 3 weeks when they went down by a single goal to bottom of the table Bishop Sutton in a Toolstation Premier Division game. Paul Pocock was the home sides most influential player, three times in the first half he delivered genuine quality balls into the danger area but neither Lee Woodman or strike partner James Ansell was able to profit. Both front men had been replaced by the hour mark, Woodman at the break by Danny Baily and Ansell made way for debut making Ben Harris who was on the pitch just eight minutes before being yellow carded for a challenge.
To be fair to Harris he was ‘unlucky’ in as much as his full bloodied challenge was most certainly made to look a lot worse than it was with the pitch being so ‘soft’. The only bright spark on the night was young Baily who made an instant impact, having a shot tipped around the post after just 7 minutes of being on the pitch and again hit the cross bar on the hour mark.
Harris was one of FIVE home players booked, Brian Cann, Paul Pocock, Sam Croft and Shaun Goff were the others to go into the Falmouth based Referees book - along with three of the Bishop Sutton players - proof, as if any was needed that the Home performance was spoilt by continuing bickering with opposition, match officials, and each other!
The game was won by a 30th minute ‘fluke’ a shot by Adam White from the most acute of angles that left keeper Brian Cann wrong footed and with no chance. Rovers threw on all three subs, Ian Patchett was the third and final player to leave the bench, he was a 78th minute change for the ’tiring’ David Steele.
The home side were given the chance to draw the game but an 88th penalty - awarded for a foul on an onrushing Pocock - saw Shaun Goff strike the ball well enough but typical of Rovers night the ball flew straight at Ashley Clark in goal who made a comfortable save.
So a disappointing performance from Rovers who are undoubtedly a ’talented’ set of players but on this performance they are woefully short of a centre forward to convert the sort of chances that were being made in this particular contest.

Willand: Cann, McAuley, Hambly, Croft, Jee, Steele(Patchett 78), Goff, Norrish(c), Ansell(Harris 62), Woodman(Baily 46), Pocock
Booked: Goff 32, Cann 37, Croft 65, Harris 71, Pocock 83

Bishop Sutton: Clark, Payne, Stone, Andrews(c), Waring(Nolan 65), Tyers, Tricker, Farrell, Bone(Dymond 90), Dumphy, White
Sub: Payne(not used)
Booked: Waring 22, Payne 37, Andrews 85
Goal: White 30