Category: First team

Click the link below for photo’s

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/106481448529677945455/albums/6120982803183486401

 

Willand bristles past Brislington in display of total football.

 

Willand 4 Brislington 1

 

With a mere 20 seconds on the clock James Blake slammed the ball past the keeper to put Rovers on their way to a scintillating 45 minutes of football. Shane Kingston and Craig Veal were brought into the side to give two of the heroes in the Bridport match a rest, so David Steele and Brett Worby were given a rest.

 

With Luke Alden and star man Lee Smythe terrorising Brislington full backs Willand had opportunities to increase the lead and as tempers started to fray from the opposition, Rovers turned to the screw.

 

On 20 minutes Smythe was fouled and from the resulting free kick Blake was able to pull the ball back for Alden to score from 6 yards. 17 minutes later Blake scored his second after great build up play from Kingston and Rogers. The icing on the cake came after a Smythe pile driver which was too hot to handle by the oppositions keeper was prodded home on the stroke of half time Veal.

 

After such a half you would think the second half would be a non-event. Although the fact that Willand did not score again was solely down to the Brislington keeper, who made four saves to keep out Blake, Alden and Veal to keep some respectability to the score. All those saves were top drawer.

 

The only down side to the performance was not a clean sheet when a long punt downwind caught the defence out and the Brislington striker managed to out muscle the covering defender to stab home.

 

Willand: Parkin: Orchard, Martin ©, Mullen, Stamp: Smythe, Rogers, Kingston. Alden; Veal, Blake; Subs: used Worby, Baily, K Hill not used Steele, Moore.

WILLAND Rovers player-manager Scott Rogers had no complaints after watching his side lose 3-1 away to Odd Down on Saturday.

James Blake saw his penalty saved after 10 minutes, and the hosts capitalised with the opener not long after.

They doubled the advantage before half-time, only for Dean Stamp to halve the deficit.

But Odd Down restored their two-goal cushion two minutes from time to inflict a fourth league defeat of the season on an under-strength Rovers outfit.

“I have no complaints about the final result – they deserved to win and could have scored more than they did,” said Rogers.

“We were missing Lee Smythe and Luke Durham already, and we went down there with Steve Orchard, Jak Martin and Luke Alden all suffering from flu as well. That was three of our top players who were just not at the races.

“We did not play terribly – we were actually okay on the day – but they kept catching us on the break, particularly in the second half.

“We did bring it back to 2-1 and thought we had a chance, but they made it 3-1. They were three poor goals we conceded.”

Rogers was quick to absolve striker Blake of any blame for his failure to convert the early penalty.

“James Blake has been on fire for us this season so I can’t blame him,” said Rogers. “He is going through a quiet patch but he has scored a lot of goals for us.”

Up next for Rovers is a trip to Bridport in the second round of the Les Phillips Cup on Saturday.

They will be without experienced defender Simon Hill, who misses out due to a foot injury being worse than first thought.

However, they have been boosted in the form of a new signing.

Rogers explained: “We have re-signed Danny Jee. He has been travelling for the last couple of years. We do not expect him to slot in straight away but he is Willand through and through so that is a real bonus.”

 

THEY may have missed the chance to close up on the title favourites, but Willand Rovers player-manager Scott Rogers felt there were plenty of positives to take from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bristol Manor Farm.

James Blake’s close-range finish late in the game saw Rovers salvage a draw, having fallen behind to an opener from the visitors just after the hour-mark at Silver Street.

But Rogers feels that the hosts, who managed to hit the woodwork both before and after their goal, proved themselves to be more than a match for the much-fancied Bristol outfit. “I think that most in attendance thought that we were the better team and could have won, but we didn’t really take our chances,” he said. “They were very, very good but I thought we were comfortably the better side on the day and deserved at least a draw.

“Considering we were 1-0 down with about eight minutes to go, I was definitely happy with a draw.

“We had some really good chances on the day. Their goal led a charmed life, but that is football and it happens sometimes – luck evens itself out over the course of the season.

“We would like to have won but it was one of those games which it was more important not to lose. We still have three games in hand over them and are six points behind.”

The draw does leave Rovers six points from Bristol Manor Farm in the table, although Melksham Town have capitalised on the stalemate to move a point clear at the top of the standings with a 1-0 win over Sherborne Town.

Kurtis Parkin had to be on his toes early on for Willand in Saturday’s contest to deny Jordan Metters, before both Rogers and Blake saw efforts cleared off the line.

The visitors made the most of a defensive mix-up to take the lead, before Shane Kingston saw his effort cannon off the bar as Rovers searched for an equaliser.

With time running out, Lewis Tasker crossed for Blake to level, and there was still time for Luke Alden’s shot to come back off the post as they hunted for a winner.

“That result will give us confidence and sets us up really well for the second half of the season,” said Rogers, whose side visit Odd Down on Saturday.

“We know that we can go toe-to-toe with one of the better sides in the division and that will give us confidence. If you want to win the league, it is important to beat the teams at the bottom of the table and not lose to those up there challenging for it.”

PLAYER-MANAGER Scott Rogers says that Saturday’s home clash with league leaders Bristol Manor Farm is Willand Rovers’ biggest game of the season.

Willand may have three games in hand over their visitors, but the six-point deficit which separates the two sides has seen Rogers label it even more important than their FA Cup fourth round qualifying clash with Gosport Borough earlier this season.

And Rogers, whose side did not play at the weekend, says avoiding defeat is crucial to their title hopes.

“I think it is our biggest game of the season – even bigger than the Gosport game to be honest,” he said.

“They are one of the top teams so I am hoping we can get a result and a decent crowd for it.

“If we can either win or draw then I think we will be in with a good chance in the title race.

“I think that if we lose we will put ourselves under a lot of pressure to win the title.

“I know I am putting a lot of pressure on us but it is important we get a result on Saturday. It is a massive game for the club and for the supporters.”

Rogers is buoyed by the prospect of having a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

He has even arranged a friendly away to Torquay United on Tuesday to ensure his men are fit and ready for the weekend’s crunch clash.

Rogers said: “Dean Stamp has been out with suspension but it will be good for him to get a game on Tuesday. Other than that, we have a fully fit squad with no suspensions or anything for Saturday.

“We go into it at full strength.”

It is just as well, as they will need every resource available to take something off a team who have conceded just 18 goals in their 20 league games this season.

But rather than be intimidated by their opponents’ pedigree, Rogers is instead aiming to copy their blueprint for success.

“Bristol Manor Farm are pretty much where we aspire to be at the moment. Their manager has built a really good side and that is what we are trying to do,” he continued.

“If we can emulate that we will not be too far away from the top

 

Scott Rogers of Willand Rovers receiving the Premier Division Manager of the Month for November sponsored by Boca-Soccer from General Secretary Mark Edmonds with assistants Russell Jee (L) & Hedley Steele (R)

Jak Martin, player of the month for November, being presented with his bottle of bubbly

from match sponsor, Rob Holland of RKH Construction LTD.