Match Preview WRFC Vs Wellington AFC

Our second game at the Stan Robinson sees us taking on Wellington. Our first pre-season game took us up to Bishop’s Lydeard, where we got a convincing 2-0. Then on Friday, we played Taunton Town, and after a valiant effort, we left that game with a draw.

In that game, we saw debutants like Cameron Page get on the score sheet and bring some more momentum to the club. Our next game is against Wellington, which should provide a good atmosphere and, overall, a very good game of football. The main hope is that we can continue our good form that we have obtained in the first two games of pre-season.

The one to watch is Jack Winsor; he is a 21-year-old central midfielder who has experience in this league with the likes of Bideford AFC. He has played for the likes of Torquay and was even on loan with the Rovers in the 22/23 season. He is by far Wellington’s best player and will make our midfield work.

This match marks the midway point of what has been an exciting pre-season for Rovers fans as we drew with very good opposition in Taunton Town. With trialists impressing, things are looking promising for the Rovers, and we are hoping that we can bring that good form onto the field on Wednesday.

Match Report WRFC Vs Taunton Town

Willand are home for the first time this season in their second preseason game. The first game took us to Bishop Lydeard, where Willand won. Willand hopes to keep the same form going into the next game against Taunton Town.

The game started out with Taunton on the front foot as they controlled possession and had some good chances within the first 15 minutes. Within the first 3 minutes, Taunton had a really good chance, but a good save from Willand’s Andy Sowden-Bird kept the game at 0-0.

Sowden-bird, who was tested a few times during the first half until the visitors took the lead in the 28th minute. This is where Willand started to see more of the game and started to have a few chances of their own, notably in the 40th minute. Tom Bath hit the back of the net; unfortunately, it was called out for offside. The peacocks took the lead going into halftime.

The second half kicked off, and Willand started strong; they had a few chances looking for a comeback. In the 56th minute we saw a triple substitution with Tom Bath, Alfie Cunningham, and Ashton Hewitt coming off. Replacing them were Fin Wadsworth, Douglas Camilo, and Cameron Page.

These new substitutions sparked a change in the game, as Willand looked like the more comfortable team with chance after chance until the 67th minute, when Cameron Page scored for Willand Rovers to equalise. It looped over the keeper.

The game would then stay at 1-1 for the majority of the second half, with both teams having chances until the deadlock was broken again when Bailey Kempster scored for Willand in the 90th minute. Everyone had thought that Willand had won the game until Ben Seymour scored with the last kick of the game with a chip over Sowden-Bird.

The game ended in a draw, but it was still a good result for them when they were home for the first time this season in their second game of pre-season. The first game took us to Bishop Lydeard, where Willand won. Willand hopes to keep the same form going into the next game against Wellington on Wednesday Night.

Match Preview WRFC Vs Taunton Town

Our first game at Silver Street sees Willand Rovers take on Taunton Town in our second pre-season friendly. The game is expected to draw a solid crowd to the Stan Robinson with familiar faces like Fin Rooke making their return to Silver Street on Friday night.

The first port of call on our pre-season schedule was the sleepy village of Bishops Lydeard where the footballing dragon awoke inside us with the cobwebs being dusted off and 2 goals being provided from Douglas Camilo and Ross Edwards gave us a positive start to the preparations.

Last time we played Taunton it was a good game and we gave them a good fight but they won 3-2. We go into this game looking to test ourselves fairly with a higher opposition in the village meanwhile keeping our good form intact.

One to watch this game is Ben Seymour. The 26-year-old came through the youth setup at Exeter City where after his release from St. James Park he joined Plymouth Parkway with goals for fun going everywhere at Bolitho Park. London called and so did his move into the NLS until a Riviera Return was signalled following a move to the Gulls before this season being loaned out to another Animal, The Peacocks.

He has a lot of experience in the pro game and will look to express that against us. He will bring experience to what is on average a developing side and he will no doubt be on form as we look to take revenge after last season’s result.

This season will be one to watch for Rovers fans as we look to build on last season and to continue our win we got last game and we look to extend our winning streak all throughout pre-season as we will have our first test in terms of quality on the field.

Pre Season Preview

The dawn of a new season is starting to arise from out of the ground after a summer break but before the main event can get underway, the pre-season preparations are on the cards as a full schedule of fixtures over July awaits us before we go again in the Southern Football League Division One South!

Swaps have been made across the divisions as a whole new set of teams enters the division. Coming down from the Premier Division are Swindon Supermarine, Frome Town & Winchester City who will be looking to bounce back quickly after their relegations. Coming into the division are Brixham, Hartpury University, Portishead Town & Sporting Club Inkberrow to shake up the pack.

A summer of change at Silver Street was expected with departures out of Mid Devon but also arrivals into the Stan Robinson with a trio making their way out as striker Fin Rooke headed onto Southern Premier side Taunton Town and making their way across the M5 and over into Tiverton was keeper George Burton and young striker Jacob Wellington.

However, what must come out must go back in as Rovers added five new signings to the squad. First came Tom Bath from Exmouth Town who returns after several seasons away from the Street to provide an attacking threat to our front line after a successful season with the Town last year. A massive coup for Rovers also followed with former loanee Bailey Kempster making his stay much more permanent after several loan spells at Willand which will hopefully get the white and black army out of their seats next year.

Then came 3 signings in one day. Andrew Sowden-Bird swooped in to stand between the sticks going into the new campaign with some reinforcements towards the top end with the pitch as we copped Jordan Copp & Rikki Shepherd who will provide some further experience within the squad to bolster our chances going into another season in the eighth tier.

The lads return to training this week ahead of next Friday’s opening pre-season game where South West Peninsula League East side Bishops Lydeard AFC will host David Steele’s men to kick off the preparations with the ball rolling from 7:30 up at Darby Way.

The lads then return to Silver Street the following Friday 11th July with Taunton Town making a visit to the village with another 7:30 pm KO as several returning faces make their way back, Western League Wellington visit us on the 16th July too with The Tangerines providing another midweek test for us.

Then it’s a little local derby to be contested on Saturday the 19th July as Tiverton Town head over to the Street with another handful of familiar faces heading back to Willand for a 3 pm clash hopefully in the summer sun as the lads continue to kick on with a strong test against a Tivvy side who have made a few changes from last year.

Our only second away fixture in the calendar see’s us make the trip up the M5 to Fairfax Park on the 22nd July with a 7:30 pm KO where we take on Western League side Bridgwater United who have had a transformative summer and a great test before we conclude our list of fixtures with South West Peninsula League East side Honiton Town coming to The Stan Robinson on Monday 28th July with another 7:30 pm KO.

All fixtures are subject to change, but we hope to see you at as many fixtures as possible with Dave and the lads always appreciating your support before another campaign in the Southern League Division One South where we will be travelling further than ever for our games.

Season tickets remain on sale for our upcoming campaign in the Div One South with the Earlybird price available before 1st of July for £166 this season for Adults & £112 for concessions. All home pre-season friendlies will be included in the ticket if you purchase before the deadline.

To apply for your season tickets simply email the club secretary at willandroversfc@outlook.com and an application form will be sent to you. Alternatively, you can pick one up from the club or click on the link below.

drive.google.com/file/d/1WxyNyY

Please return your form to the club with the appropriate payment; we will then process your payment and notify you when your season ticket will be ready for you to collect from the club.

We hope to see you at our pre-season fixtures at some point during the next month, Our league game schedule will be available within the next month too and we will endeavour to let supporters know of those fixtures once we have them.

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