Willand travelled to Wiltshire for Saturday’s matchup vs Bemerton Heath in our latest battle in the Southern League Premier Division One South Campaign as we try to put things right by breaking our streak as Rovers are yet to seal all three on the road so far in 24/25.
In the early stages, there were huge shouts for what seemed to be a penalty but the referee saw it as a dive and didn’t give it as Owen got booked for asking for it. A cross comes in from the right-hand side as a free kick and Harvey Dorothy gets his head on it but his connection isn’t great so the opportunity comes to nothing.
Willand countered quickly as George Burton launched a clearance up to Owen Howe who was able to get the ball under control with a shoulder-to-shoulder battle and a few passes in the box let the hosts reset. Soon after Fin Rooke goes down in the box for a penalty as Owen Howe takes the penalty the keeper saves it onto the post.
Shortly after it would be the hosts who took the lead as a quick turnaround from Bemerton as a shot from one of their front men hit the crossbar when the rebound shot was blocked but our luck ran out with shots going adrift as another rebound was slotted away into the bottom right-hand corner.
Debutant Jacob Wellington’s shot from outside the box was travelling towards the bottom right but the keeper got down well and could tip it past the post, from that the corners came to very little.
It could’ve been 2-0 before the whistle as Ross Edwards was turned and sat down and as the shot went off it was sent miles high above the crossbar as George Burton was unphased about it.
Going into the break, Bemerton were ahead and Rovers really should have gotten something out of that half but a very important 45 was up for David Steele’s men.
Our fortunes would change though as Dorothy gets past his man well with a lovely change of direction and he plays a perfectly weighted ball to Harvey Dorothy who takes a touch to go around the keeper and walks his way to another goal to his tally this season.
Ross took down Leighton Thomas as he was bodied to the ground and was given a yellow card for the challenge. The free kick was given to the hosts and a very well-taken strike from Olly Balmer with it rifling towards the near post and it’s too powerful for George Burton to palm away as he palms it into his net to put the hosts ahead again.
One of the Bemerton midfielders takes an ambitious long shot which is parried and claimed quite easily by George Burton. Rovers continue to find a leveller with Jack Kennell crossing into the path of Fin Rooke as his header hits the post with Phil Mendonca following it up by sending it just over the bar.
On a day of many free kicks, another Bemerton player goes down and the ball is deflected for the corner. As that comes to an end Rovers goes in the attack and has a few shots and they get felt with and the ball eventually goes out for a corner.
In the dying stages of the game, Bemerton’s number 9 Leighton Thomas was shown a red card from a second yellow of the game for a high foot which connects with Ross Edward’s head. The hosts reduced to 10 in extra time.
Full-time at Moon Park and it ends in a 2-1 win for Bemerton Heath on another tough afternoon for Willand on the road in a month where we have several away trips lined up.
