03.11.2007 Corsham Town v Willand Rovers

Match: Corsham Town v Willand Rovers

Result: 1-1, score draw

Date: Saturday 3rd November 2007.

Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier

Venue: Southbank Ground, Corsham

Weather: Mild and sunny

Conditions: good

Crowd: 148

Ground Appearance: Good

Referee: Ian Robinson, Swindon

Willand came back from Wiltshire with a point after a share of the spoils at defending champions Corsham Town. After their recent topsy-turvey run this would usually be a point gained, but succumbing to an injury time equalizer, and with difficult trips away at Street and Truro in the coming week, it may well be a case of two valuable points dropped. These games against Corsham are usually hard fought encounters, some times not pleasing to the eye, and this was to be no different with it looking for most of the game that one goal could be the decider. Just three minutes in it was Shaun Goff who floated over a free kick into the home penalty area which Nick Gingell in goal did well to hold despite being under pressure from Sam Croft. Two minutes later it was Corsham Towns Ross Lye displaying skills not unlike that of Steven Gerrard as he played a fantastic cross field pass that sent the home side on the attack, but despite a good cross into the Willand area the resulting header went wide of goal. Just 17 minutes in, manager Clive Jones was forced into shuffling his pack as Shaun Goff limped off the field injured, replaced by Phil Everett who was pushed up front and leaving Paul Pocock to play left wing back and David Hambly as sweeper. As the first half limped on unexcitingly, it took until the 30 minute before the first corner of the game arrived and the first real effort on goal, a tame strike from Russell Jee, back in the 'Rovers side after his recent switch from North Devon side Bideford. On 35 minutes it was Corsham Town who woke up calling Nathan Whatley into action for the first time, pushing a curled shot by Liam Fulham around the post for a corner. As the 1st half drew to a close it was Willand who finished with a rattle, seeing two shots cleared off the line and a dangerous Jee free kick being hacked away to safety. Early pressure in the opening minutes of the second half by Corsham provided them with 2 corners, the second of which saw Rob Norrish clear the ball and set Willand on the counter attack, providing the pass that set Pocock on his way, setting up James Ansell for a crack on goal that was snubbed out by the 'Town defence.On 55 minutes it was Croft again with a good chance, but put his header over the cross bar with the 'keeper well beaten. On 65 minutes it was Whatley who had to be alert, nearly being caught out by a back header that was drifting perilously close to the top corner, with the home side just beginning to step on the gas. Willand took the lead on 70 minutes as more good work down the right hand side saw Ansell force a corner, which was taken short to Gary McAuley, his cross found David Steele who made no mistake, heading the ball into the back of the net. With just under 20 minutes remaining it was substitute Everett who was again replaced due to injury by Lloyd Beech, but his spell on the pitch was to last only 15 minutes as he was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Matt Windle late on. With 8 minutes remaining Corsham mustered up their first meaningful shot on target of the second half that was dealt with easily by Whatley. With the game into added time Willand succumbed to a sucker punch as they failed to clear a cross by Fulham resulting in substitute Jason Walsh heading Corsham a share of the points.
Willand now travel to Street on Tuesday night, 7.30ko and then travel away to Truro City on Saturday.

Willand: Whatley, McAuley, Hambly, Croft, Hill, Goff(Everett 17, Beech 71), Steele, Norrish(c), Ansell, R. Jee, Pocock
Subs: Patchett(not used)
Booked: Norrish, R. Jee
Sent Off: Beech
Goal: Steele 70

Corsham Town: Gingell, Davis, Ingall(Walsh 25), Moss, Windle, Fulham, Taylor, Lye, J. Lye(c), Gray, Lyons
Subs: C. Fulham, Harvy,
Goal: Walsh 90+2

Star Man: Kris Davis (Corsham Town)