Category: Club events

Match Preview
Willand Rovers v Tavistock

Weather permitting, there is a Devon Derby to be played out this weekend as the Lambs make their way to the Stan Robinson Stadium in the Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South with a 3 pm KO!

Last weekend it was the weather who beat us as our game against Shaftesbury had to be chalked off with the pitch not feeling too well. But this has not stopped the momentum as preparations have been continuing as the fixture list shrinks down with the race towards the end of the season continuing.

On the squad news side of things, the club are delighted to announce the loan signing of creative striker Brandon Bak who joins Rovers until the final whistle, Bak is a rising talent and will be an asset to have for the final push. We thank Scott Bartlett and Rogers for their assistance with the loan!

Onto the game at hand, Stuart Henderson’s Lambs make the journey through the county this weekend and are ramping up for another county clash with the lower temperatures finally making it’s departure, the heat still remains on the pitch with the title of Devon Pride on the line.

Last weekend for Tavistock was a home clash with Mousehole which despite the conditions across the South West being less desirable than wanted, a game was still on down at Langsford Park with it being a point a piece for both sides with the tie ending goalless.

One to look out for in the Red and Black (potentially blue and white) would be Jack Winsor who came through the ranks at Torquay United as a youngster with lots of potential and even had a spell at Silver Street before heading to North Devon to join Bideford for 18 months. Only recently has he joined the Lambs but has taken like a duck to water in recent performances.

Earlier on in the season it was just the one goal which separated Rovers and Tavistock with Harvey Dorothy firing past Dearing ensuring that Steele’s men found three points on the road on a bitter afternoon in West Devon.

Though not a traditional Devon Derby like Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City or Bideford v Barnstaple, any in county fixture is a chance to get one over another but at the same time to share a common goal of pride and spirit for the non league game in our part of the world. Join us this weekend for another massive game at the Street, come on Rovers!

#WeAreRovers

*MATCH PREVIEW*

Willand Rovers v Shaftesbury

All eyes turn to the fixture list this Saturday as Rovers continue battling through the shortest month of the year it’s the turn of Dorset side Shaftesbury who makes the journey to Silver Street this weekend ahead of another clash in the Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South with a 3 pm kick-off at the Stan Robinson.

Our first fixture of the week saw David Steele’s men travel up the motorway to Cribbs in which several returning players made it onto the team sheet for this game. The hosts took the lead early on through a goal from Calney, then two before the half-hour mark through Bonnick. Rovers made sure not to let the hosts run too far away with it as Kempster pulled it back to half the deficit going into the break.

Second half and the hosts did get that third but the story does not end there with Kempster finding a response early within the second half. Harvey Dorothy helped secure a point on the road on a bitter night in Brizzle just under 20 minutes from time which was the final action of the half and 3-3 it stayed.

Onto this game now and it is the Rockies (not the Rookies, sorry Fin) who make the journey down to Mid Devon on Saturday, Pat McManus and his lads have progressed on through the season with it being their debut campaign at this level. They’ve had a midweek off after having Exmouth come to them on Saturday but it was the hosts who managed to find three points on the afternoon.

One to look out for Shaftesbury would have to be Brett Pitman. For those who aren’t familiar with Brett, he has a fantastic CV of footballing experience with his career starting at AFC Bournemouth before making a move to Bristol City where he spent three years at the gate. Other clubs he has plied his trade at include Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers and the most prestigious of all… AFC Portchester where he scored a lot of goals in the 9th tier.

We visited Cockrams during October in which for around 90 minutes it was 0-0, however, it would be the one to look out for which put it in the back of the net to secure three points for the hosts on the night after a heavy battle.

With Valentine’s Day out of the way, hopefully you’ve bought your partner a ticket to this fixture to show your appreciation or if you don’t have a relationship, treat yourself to a game of football and the joy of another exciting Willand Rovers game, see you Saturday.

#WeAreRovers

Match Preview
Cribbs FC v Willand Rovers

A very quick turnaround for Rovers up ahead as tomorrow night we travel up the M5 for our rescheduled fixture with Cribbs in the Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South with a 7:45 pm KO at the Lawns.

The last time out for Willand was just shy of 72 hours ago with the long journey over to Bashley where 5 goals were struck on the afternoon but the pendulum swung the host’s way with a 3-2 win for the Stags. Bailey Kempster’s contributions from the penalty spot made up the goals for Rovers with the late stages the pressure being piled on to find that golden third.

Onto the game at hand, on a night of cup football in the county, Rovers escape all of that to focus on the important fixture ahead of them with another vital three points up for grabs. Cribbs have been in the Division for 2 seasons now with their first season being under current Taunton Town boss Richard Luffman and now Ryan Crouch has taken the reigns at The Lawns and will be keen to build on from the previous success.

One to watch for Cribbs would have to be Mal Nicholls who is currently on loan from Chippenham Town at the moment. The Welsh 21-year-old defender came through the ranks of the Swansea City academy before he departed for Newport County. He’s also turned out for the likes of Chippenham, Basingstoke and Larkhall. A promising defender, Nicholls will certainly be tough to get past on the evening and will be one to look out for in the future.

The hosts’ last matchup against Rovers was on a sunny, September afternoon at Silver Street with Willand running out 4-0 winners and most notably a goal of the season contender from River Allen with him soaring the ball from the halfway line and past the keeper securing all three for the All-Whites on the day.

Our final away game of the month, plenty to fight and play for. The magic of the Southern League strikes again, Time to step it up again on a cold Bristolian Tuesday night.

#WeAreRovers