06.10.2007 Willand Rovers v Shortwood United

Match: Willand Rovers v Shortwood United

Result: 2-1 home win

Date: Saturday 6th October 2007.

Competition: FA Vase 1st Rd Proper

Venue: Silver Street, Willand

Weather: Warm

Conditions: Good

Crowd: 115

Ground Appearance: Very good

Referee: Mark Adkins, Saltash, 1st half/Martin Woolcott, Newton Abbot, 2nd half

Willand put an end to the recent good run of Cup giant killers, Shortwood United with a magnificent 2-1 win at the Stan Robinson Stadium. The Hellenic League Premier side have dumped out Southern League Tiverton Town & Gloucester City from the FA Cup over recent weeks, but it was the Toolstation Premier League side who's name went in the hat for the 2nd round draw, after this hard fought victory. In an evenly contested game it was Shortwood who had the ball in the back of the net first on 5 minutes, but the lively James Singh had his effort ruled out for off-side. The visitors continued to press and Willand were again caught napping, with Rich Evans shooting tamely into the arms of Nathan Whatley after a 'nutmeg' on Sam Croft with 13 minutes gone. Willand failed to heed the early warning and a minute later were again undone, this time Oddy Taylor lobbed the ball over the cross bar when clean through on goal. The home side began to get a foothold in the game and if not for some outstanding goal keeping would have taken the lead 15 minutes into the game. A foul on James Ansell brought Willand a free kick that was delivered into the box by David Hambly, which found the head of Danny Jee. His thumping header was somehow flicked away from goal for a corner by the foot of visiting shot stopper Martin Pearce when a goal looked a certainty. Four minutes later it was leading goal scorer Sam Williams who flashed a shot wide before the hosts eventually took the lead on 21 minutes. Williams and Ansell combined with a combination of flicked passes before setting up Jee to wrong foot the Shortwood 'keeper from inside the penalty area. As the home side began to dominate they were caught out by a sucker punch at the other end on the half hour mark. A wayward shot by John Cant split the 'Rovers defense allowing the fleet footed Singh to speed through and score with an unstoppable shot past Whatley. A late tackle on Ansell by Ben Mammola saw the visiting defender pick up the first yellow card of the game, but the resulting free kick was blasted harmlessly into the wall by David Steele. The home side finished the half well with Jee again going close with another header this time from a Hambly corner just before the interval. A calf injury put pay to referee,Mark Adkins afternoon and with assistant referee Martin Woolcott taking the middle, both sides were indebted to Andy Cridland who made the switch from spectator to match official for the remaining 45 minutes. A free kick on 56 minutes by Shortwoods Evans was fumbled by Whatley and was only kept from entering the back of the net thanks to a goal line clearance from Paul Pocock. Another needless free kick conceded by Croft minutes later was again flashed into the penalty area by Evans, but this time Whatley was the hero as he produced a top drawer save, tipping the ball around the post and away for a corner. The home side again came close to grabbing the lead with Steele flicking a header agonizingly wide of the upright following a 69 minute corner from Hambly. The impressive Singh should have put the visitors in the driving seat with just 15 minutes left on the clock when leaving Simon Hill in his wake before going one on one with Whatley, but again the 'keeper was up to the task denying the striker with a fine save. Pearce in the visitors goal came to their rescue in the remaining nine minutes, producing a fingertip save to deny Steele a goal after he had got his head to a Danny Baily long throw in. Fine work by the impressive Ansell saw him intercept the ball on the outside of the Shortwood area before supplying a wonderful ball across the box which was finished with aplomb from close range by Pocock on 85 minutes. The remaining minutes saw Willand dig in and hold onto a memorable victory in front of a healthy looking crowd and send the home supporters wild at the final whistle. Tonight (Tuesday) sees Willand start their defense of their Les Phillips crown when they entertain Chard Town, 7.45ko

Willand: Whatley, McAuley, Hambly, Croft, Hill, Steele, Jee, Norrish(c), Williams(Baily 63), Ansell, Pocock
Subs: Everett, Patchett, Cann(not used)
Booked: Hill 76
Goals: Jee 21, Pocock 85

Shortwood United: Pearce, Roberts, Cant, Mammola(Steadman 81), Thomas(c), Smith(Cornwall 88), Singh, Green, Taylor, Evans, Pugh
Subs: Kavanagh, Hoskins(not used)
Goal: Singh 30

Star Man: Rob Norrish (Willand Rovers)