Category: First team

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.

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.

End of season Race Night & Presentation evening

📆 Saturday 3rd May

⌚️ 7pm start

🚪 Doors open from 6.30pm

Come & join us Everyone’s welcome

This is a free to attend event

Match Report
Malvern Town v Willand Rovers

The final game of the season took Rovers up the M5 and across a bit. Matchday 42 saw a matchup between Malvern Town and Willand. The hosts needed a win to cement their playoff space, while Rovers were here to play out one last fixture to place themselves around the mid-table point.

A couple of changes were brought in as George Burton missed out due to an injury which occurred against Bideford on Monday where he had to come off early and Josh Searle was also not in the squad this week. 18-year-old Thomas Seymour who has been training with the club all season was given his debut in between the sticks.

The players emerged out of the tunnel and the ball got rolling when in the very early stages Rovers would have a chance to go in front. The ref whistled and pointed to the spot. Up steps Douglas Camilo and nestles it in the left corner to get his third of the campaign. Willand is in front on a crucial day for the hosts.

The Hillsiders had a mini mountain to climb of their own throughout the first half as they continued to barrage Seymour who stepped up to the plate and produced some fantastic saves. Reece Shanley also decided to do a bit of keeping of his own as on several occasions in the first half he was required to clear shots off the line.

The mission was set though for Malvern, make it to the playoffs they would not give Willand a moment to catch their breath with even more shots on target and near misses firing our way but it would all add up in the end for them with Jack Watts finding the back of the net to level the scoring up.

Then came the revenge from the early penalty as up the other end another point to the spot was ordered. Watts required once again to make it count and so he did with Seymour going left whilst the striker going right to have Malvern in front.

Before the break, the hosts would be at it again with Clark rifling it down the middle of the goal where Seymour just couldn’t quite see as it travelled at pace. Their playoff hopes edging just closer with 15 minutes to compose and cool down.

The second half wouldn’t go in Rover’s favour either as the hosts were still hot on our heels to find a fourth as they carved out chance after chance, you could be mistaken for them attempting about 20 times before the hour mark at goal.

Rovers did have a corner or two in the earlier parts of the first half, Allen aiming mostly towards the back post but the backline was well drilled and cleared when needed and would not let Willand slip in whatsoever as the scores in other places were still on their mind.

Willand could’ve had another penalty in the second half with Wellington pulled down just inside the area needed to point to the spot but the ref dismissed his claims but did not leave the youngster empty-handed with a yellow brandished for his troubles.

A fourth then did arrive for the hosts, MacDonald worked his way into the box from a corner and the right place at, the right time to deliver a header past Seymour which would secure the game for the hosts in the afternoon.

Subs were needed to add a bit of energy back in and so Harvey Dorothy & Jack Kennell both made way for Gene Price & Ollie Crisp to get things cooking again on the pitch. A couple of chances did fall our way but nothing as concrete as before.

One last player to use on the bench and Nathan Byrne made his way onto the 3G for River Allen. The rest of the second half went a bit flat with one chance coming our way as Byrne looked to squeeze a shot in from a tight angle with the keeper not being overly phased as it didn’t reach the target this time.

Added time was not needed and the curtain was lowered on another season in the Southern League for Willand Rovers, not quite on the highest note but we go back into battle once again in the magic league itself next season for another swing which is what matters.

Good luck to Malvern Town next week as they will take on Bishops Cleeve in the playoffs to put them one game further to step 4. Full-time at the HDAnywhere Stadium, Malvern Town 4-1 Willand Rovers.

#WeAreRovers

Malvern Town v Willand Rovers

There is just one last game for Willand this season and it is a trip right back up the M5 to the rolling hills of Malvern Town for Matchday 42 of the Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South with a 3 pm KO at the HDanywhere Stadium!

Last time out for Rovers we welcomed fellow Devon side Bideford AFC to Silver Street where a bumper crowd saw Rovers fall to defeat with the visitors sending 4 past Willand on the afternoon with 2 consolation goals rolling in from Harvey Dorothy & Ollie Crisp in added time to deny the visitors a clean sheet.

The attention now turns to one last trip and The Hillsiders have a tall order to fulfil with a playoff place at stake in the afternoon. Stephen Cleal & Lee Hooper’s men have in their 2 season stretch at the helm of Malvern brought excitement to Worcestershire and will now be looking to push the side one step further this season.

Last weekend saw the hosts travel to Cinderford where they asserted dominance and relegated the Foresters with a 4-0 win at The Causeway thanks to goals from Harry Clark, Jack Watts & Joseph Bullock.

One to look out for in the opposition this weekend would have to be former EFL striker Ryan Brunt who joined Malvern at the beginning of the year from Bath City as he starts to enter the final chapter of his career.

Brunt has previously played for Stoke, Luton, Tranmere, Leyton Orient, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City where he brought experience and goals and now brings it to the eighth tier with a plethora of talent.

The last time out between both sides was a 1-1 draw at the street with Rovers scoring through Ryan Guppy but the points had to be shared on a cold October afternoon in Mid Devon.

The Fun Bus is in operation for one last time this campaign with the usual fare of £15 and a departure time of 11 am from the Street, do contact Mike Hawkins or our club’s social media channels to book your place.

Whether you’re making the trip to Malvern or not, there is plenty on in the village on Saturday with the Exeter City RTC sides in action from midday and Hundred Faces will be entertaining in the clubhouse from 8 pm.

Another season is nearly complete for the Rovers, just 90 more minutes to carve out one last dent in the league table. This fixture is certainly one not to miss with no more action in place until July so get yourselves on the bus, make the trip and get behind the local boys from the village green.

#WeAreRovers