22.12.2007 Willand Rovers v Brislington

Match: Willand Rovers v Brislington

Result: 3-1 home win

Date: Saturday 22nd December 2007.

Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier

Venue: Silver Street, Willand

Weather: Damp

Conditions: Good

Crowd: 62

Ground Appearance: Good

Referee: Brett Huxtable, Torrington

Willand Rovers returned to winning ways with a fine 3-1 win at home to Brislington. After an indifferent mix of results of late, the home side put in an entertaining performance, in a game that was played at a good pace throughout and a result the 'Rovers fully deserved. The home side forced the issue from the off, with the lively pairing of Paul Pocock and Danny Baily linking up well after just 6 minutes with the later delivering a teasing ball into the box, unfortunately their was nobody in a white shirt to steer the ball home. Some strange refereeing decisions allowed the visitors a succession of free kicks, and although they failed to provide any real danger to the Willand goalkeeper Brian Cann, it was a reminder to the home side that they had not arrived at Silver Street to roll over and give them the three points, even though it was near Christmas! The impressive Shaun Goff put David Steele away through on goal, thanks to a pin point pass, and although Steele rounded Nick Yeo in the visitors goal a bad touch meant the ball slipped harmlessly away for a goal kick with just 10 minutes on the clock. Four minutes later and it was Goff again in the thick of the action, this time going on a fine solo run towards goal after receiving the ball from a throw by the quick thinking Cann. Goff from just inside his own half beat every player in front of him before calmly slotting the ball past Yeo from just inside the box, a goal worthy of winning any game and no more than the hosts deserved. In the following 10 minutes the home side carved out numerous chances with captain Rob Norrish unlucky to see his volleyed effort crash off the cross bar and the follow up effort from Baily could only find the arms of the goalkeeper Yeo. Willand stretched their lead on 33 minutes after Yeo spilled a cross by Simon Hill, allowing James Ansell to tap in from close range and give Willand a two goal cushion at half time. After the break it was Goff again in amongst it, this time putting a great cross across the face of goal after being set up brilliantly by Ansell, a move that nearly resulted in goal number three. Just eight minutes in Willand lost Goff through injury and in the remainder of the half also lost the services of Hill and Baily, all three must be in doubt for the Christmas campaign. Before Baily departed he made Yeo pull off a fantastic one handed save as he put the lively frontmans 20yd strike around the post for a corner on 55 minutes before netting goal number 3 on the hour. A Russell Jee corner endured a spot of ping pong in the Brislington penalty area before being tucked away into the back of the net from close range by Baily. Ansell should have made it 4-0 on 70 minutes thanks too some excellent work by Lee Woodman, he provided a great cross which Ansell put just wide of the upright with goal at his mercy. The visitors had the last say in the game as Danny Guibarra netted a consolation goal late on, slipping the ball past Cann with just 5 minutes remaining.

Willand: Cann, Jee, Hambly, Croft, Hill(McAuley 68), Steele, Goff(Woodman 53), Norrish(c),Ansell, Baily(Patchett 70), Pocock
Goals: Goff 14, Ansell 33, Baily 60
Booked: Hill 22, Norrish 48

Brislington: Yeo, Hazell, Rich, Patch(c), Webber, Dicker, Nott, Lock, Keeling, Guibarra, Sainsbury
Subs: Ashmead, Sullivan, Meecham
Goal: Guibarra 85
Booked: Sullivan, Ashmead

Star Man: Rob Norrish, Willand Rovers