Taunton and District League
Under-15s Division Two
WILLAND ROVERS 11 – 0 WATCHET
This game saw the Rovers forwards re-discover their scoring boots with three players hitting hat-tricks and Kai Morgan getting a hat-trick of assists.
With Chaz Dodd and Christian Whales missing from the line up and recognising the strength in the Watchet engine room, Manager Tony Badcott switched to a new 3-5-2 formation with Chris Badcott leading the line to allow Sam Ayres and Oscar Walsh the freedom of the flanks.
The formation paid dividends after a surging run from the jet heeled Walsh saw him smash home the opening goal after just under five minutes on the clock. It took the Willand players some time to adapt to the really sticky Silver Street surface in a game well officiated by ref Michael Johnson. However, revelling in his wide role leading scorer Sam Ayres added a first half hat trick scoring with both feet inside the box for the score at half time to be 4-0 to Willand.
The second half began as the first ended with Walsh grabbing his second within a minute of the restart. The speed of Kai Morgan, Garreth Blackmore, Walsh and Ayres was a joy to watch but none of this attacking play was possible without the solid foundations from goalkeeper Ben Gubb and the three centre half’s Haydn Tucker, Matt Futcher and Man of the Match Oli Billings who was faultless – quite some achievement on a pitch that began to resemble a World War One battlefield as the game wore on.
In front of the boys at the back the returning and much welcomed steadying influence of Jake Turner alongside the power of Josh Herbert and the guile and creativity of Aiden Harrison meant that wave after wave of attacks were peppering the Watchet defence.
Headlines were made though by a hat trick of assists down the right flank by Kai Morgan who continued his fine form of late and by Garreth Blackmore who bagged his own second half hat trick. Oscar Walsh completed his hat trick and the proceedings were finished by a wonderful team move culminating in Josh Herbert making it ten before a last own goal completed the scoring.
The Final result was Willand 11 Watchet 0
Man of the Match was Oli Billings in the heart of the defence
Goals were shared out on the day between Ayres 3, Walsh 3, Blackmore 3, Herbert 1 and Own Goal 1
The Willand Line up: Ben Gubb, Haydn Tucker, Oli Billings, Matt Futcher (Capt), Jacob Turner, Aiden Harrison, Chris Badcott, Josh Herbert, Sam Ayers, Garreth Blackmore and Oscar Walsh. Sub: Kai Morgan