01.09.2007 Willand Rovers v Hamworthy Utd

Match: Willand Rovers v Hamworthy Utd

Result: 3-2 away win

Date: Saturday 1st September 2007.

Competition: FA Cup Preliminary Rd

Venue: Silver Street, Willand

Weather: Mild

Conditions: Good

Crowd: 90

Ground Appearance: Good

Referee: Damon McEllin, Bristol

Willands FA Cup run is yet again over for another season, before it had really started as they were dumped out at one of the earliest stages by Hamworthy United for the second time in three years. With a thousand pounds on offer to the winners, it came as a surprise to many that the home side started this important FA Cup game with just one fit substitute, and that a striker progressing from last seasons reserve team, as their quest to add a few pounds to the club coffers fell by the way side in a disappointing 3-2 defeat. The visitors started brightly and Michael Hubbard tested Nathan Whatley as early as the 2nd minute, and a minute later Whatley was again on hand to save a good shot from Warren Byerley with his legs. The home side also came close early doors with Phil Everett just falling shy of a Paul Pocock cross with just 6 minutes gone. A David Hambly corner on 12 minutes was helped on by the head of Danny Jee to find Phil Everett unmarked at the far post, but his tame shot had know chance of troubling the composed Martin Peters in the 'hammers' goal. The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes when a free kick conceded by Gary McAuley was swung across the home penalty area by Richard Jackson, after the initial effort had come back off of the upright following a good header, the rebound was neatly tucked away at the far post by Carl Mutch. A good run by James Ansell resulted in his shot being easily tipped over the cross bar by Peters on 26 minutes, and it was the home side again going close with David Hambly having an effort go just wide three minutes later. The home side fell further behind 10 minutes before the break thanks to another good finish from Mutch. When a free kick from the home side fell into the arms of Peters for the umpteenth time during the game, he promptly set Hamworthy on their way to the `Rovers goal, and a fine cross found Mutch unmarked just inside the Willand area and he found the corner of the net with a rasping low drive. The cross bar came to the visitors rescue just before the interval with David Steele going close from a Danny Burwood corner. In a totally one sided second half, the home side pressed and again found no way through with Steele again going close with a strike on 52 minutes and having another header tipped away on the hour mark. James Ansell talked his way into the referees note book early in the half, a booking that had serious consequences for him later in the game. Any real chance of a `Rovers fight back came to a halt on 64 minutes as Hamworthy were gifted a third goal. An innocuous looking cross into the Willand area was fumbled by Whatley in goal, as the ball escaped from his reach it was played across the home box for Richard Jackson to gleefully place the ball into the back of the net and effectively wrap up the tie and the money for the visitors, with their only chance of the whole second half. The home side did get on the score sheet with 15 minutes remaining, a handball in the box by Hamworthy saw the impressive David Steele step up and fire home from the penalty spot. Danny Jee netted his first goal of the season from close range with just 6 minutes on the clock as the hosts pilled on the pressure in the search for a replay. An unsavory moment with minutes to go until the final whistle saw James Ansell sent off for a second bookable offence after a push on a Steven Gilbert, the Hamwothy had kicked out following a goal mouth scrambled, but this incident surprisingly went unnoticed by the match officials. Five minutes from the end of the game a collision between two Hamworthy players left Ryan Dovell with suspected neck damage, and an ambulance was called. Thankfully after extensive examination at hospital the player was allowed home the same evening. The `Rovers have now suffered back to back defeats, but on the performance of them in the second half it just proves, will the real Willland Rovers, please stand up!
Willand hope to get back to winning ways this Saturday as they entertain Street at home. Willands reserve team played their first league game of the season last Saturday which saw them goal down 1-0 away at East Budleigh, this weekend sees them travel to SWEB in Rd1 of the Devon Senior Cup.

Willand: Whatley, Mc Auley, Ansell, Hambly, Hill, Steele, Jee, Norrish(c),Everett(Williams 59), Burwood, Pocock
Booked: Norrish 24, Hill 36, Ansell 53(sent off 85)
Goals: Steele 75(pen), Jee 84

Hamworthy Utd: Peters, Gilbert, Grimason, Williams, Walker(c), Dovell, Legg, Hubbard, Mutch, Byerley, Jackson
Subs: Baguley, Chivers, Middleton, Ross-Jennings

Star Man: David Steele (Willand Rovers)