15.12.2007 Calne Town v Willand Rovers

Match: Calne Town v Willand Rovers

Result: 2-0 home win

Date: Saturday 15th December 2007.

Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier

Venue: Bremhill View, Calne

Weather: Freezing cold

Conditions: Good

Crowd: 32

Ground Appearance: Good

Referee: Mark Pottage, Wincanton

Willand played their first game in nearly 3 weeks when they visited Bremhill View at Calne Town but came away on the wrong end of 2-0 defeat. The opening passage of play was an even affair with both keepers having to be alert, as both sides played ball through the middle searching for the opening goal, but both teams were guilty of wasting the possession they had. It was the visitors who had the first opportunity on goal with James Ansell heading over a Paul Pocock cross on 20 minutes. More Willand pressure resulted in a free kick by Russell Jee being drilled across the face of goal, without a forward in sight. The tables turned soon after and that saw the home side have a spell of possession, they were unlucky not to have scored as Dan Lardner caught Willand goalkeeper off his line with a well taken lob that went just wide. On the half hour mark it was Willand again on the attack, this time both Lee Woodman and Ansell combined to set up Pocock, who to his credit forced the 'keeper into making a save. It was Pocock again who looked the more likely to open the scoring, twice going close nearing half time, first from a David Steele cross and his second effort being cleared off the line thanks to some rash Calne defending. As half time approached it was Steele who had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes as bearing down on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat found himself unsure of which option to take, allowing the Calne full back James Twole to make the all important tackle. A poor first half from both teams ending with the visitors, Willand finishing the half the better. It was only 10 minutes into the second half when Woodman was penalised for a foul, and the resulting free kick from fully 30yds out only just stayed out, flashing over the cross bar. It was on the hour mark that the home side took the lead, with the visitors guilty of some terrible defending that allowed Gary Banks the opportunity to beat Brian Cann easily to open the scoring. Just two minutes later it was Ansell in a prime position for Willand too equalise, but somehow he sliced his effort well wide when just inches from the goal, after again being set up by Pocock, it was harder to miss than to score! Willands strength, usually is their defence, but perhaps because of the absence of Simon Hill and Shaun Goff ended up as their downfall, as more poor defending allowed Calne to net their second, walking through unchallenged before slotting the ball past Cann. The home side should have made it 3-0 but missed an easy haeder with just 5 minutes left on the clock. It was Paul Pocock and Captain Rob Norrish who came out with the credit in a very underperforming Willand display, and if they don't put their chances away could well end up in the bottom half of the Premier Division as they continue to flatter to deceive.

Star Man, Paul Pocock (Willand Rovers)

Calne Town: Allison, Jeffries, Twole, Gardner, Casey(c), Ralph, Moore, Jones, Hopper, Banks, Lardner
Subs: Bolman, Fisher, R. Lardner
Goals: Banks 55, D Lardner 75

Willand: Cann, McAuley(Baily 80), Hambly, Croft, Everett(Patchett 65), Steele, Jee, Norrish, Ansell,
Woodman(Williams 65), Pocock
Booked: Cann 35