Category: First team

At Hengrove on a glorious late summer afternoon on a bumpy pitch for 45 minutes Willand played with passion, pride, pace, possession, precision and power. Dean Stamp was a revelation up front with a performance of strength, skill and superb finishing which rightly gave him the man of the match accolade.

Willand made four changes from the team last time out. Stamp, Dave Hambly and Jake Wannell returning.  David Steele making his first appearance of the season after injury. For the first time this season Willand  started in a 4-4-1-1 formation. Dan Western played in the hole behind Dean, Scott and Bobby Hopkinson anchored the midfield, with Steele and James Ansell on the flanks.  Hambly and Wannell held the full back slots with James Clampin and Simon Hill in the middle with keeper Matt Cafer in between the posts.

Willand started well and the first minute Stamp had a low dipping shot well saved by the Grove keeper as he pushed the ball round the post. Similarly 6 minutes later young Cafer had to replicate the save to keep the scores level.

Willand took the lead with a well-crafted move involving four players. Hambly played a neat one-two with Ansell and then tucked the ball inside to Western who turned his man and slipped a lovely little ball to Stamp who from the penalty spot slipped the ball right footed past the advancing keeper. Now Willand had their tails up and were flying, sumptuous passes sprayed from the midfield found willing runners or if the ball was passed up front Stamp held on to the ball or battled and harried the Grove back line. A foul on Stamp lead to a free kick which Hopkinson took but aided by a partial block enabled the home keeper to gather. On the 22 minute from a corner Clampin knocked the ball down for Stamp to volley slightly over. But Willand were not to be thwarted Hopkinson made a strong run down the right, beating three players from the by line, knocked the ball back to Western who floated a dinked ball to the far post for Stamp to rise above the defender and head home 2 nil Willand.

Now the confidence was flowing, a minute later Western released Stamp who let fly with a low left footer from outside the area, the ball sped past the keeper and hit the net much to the glee of the travelling band of supporters.  Willand kept going it was Western’s turn to test the keeper with a fierce shot which was only parried, Clampin’s  follow up header fell invitingly into the keepers arms. As time ran out of the half Stamp tried his luck from 30 yards but his volley flew wide.

What a half, the perfect hat trick and Willand on their way to three valuable points. Could the second half live up to that?.

The same 11 started the second half and again Willand were immediately on top. Hopkinson’s free kick flew narrowly wide with keeper well beaten. Willand kept the ball but could not match the first half tempo. That said with players playing just back from serious injury, it was a great work out for sterner tests to come. In the 55^th minute Rogers was replaced by Alex Gray. Three minutes later Clampin headed over from a Hopkinson corner. In the 65^th minute Ian Patchett and Lloyd Beech came on for goal hero Stamp and Simon Hill. Willand played out the last 25 minutes of the game with few scares Grove trying their luck from distance but none troubled Cafer in goal.

Willand Rovers:  Cafer:  Wannell© Hill Clampin Hambly: Steele Hopkinson Rogers Ansell: Western Stamp:  Subs Gray for Rogers (55), Patchett for Stamp (65), Beech for Hill (65).

Game won, 3 points on the board for our first win of the season. Scott Rogers was a very satisfied and relieved manager he was just happy to bank a win and the way the team played in that first half was a pleasure to watch. Western, Steele and Hopkinson will have all benefitted from a 90 minute workout. Although Dean took the plaudits Western had a part to play in all three goals with three assists. James Clampin ran Dean close for man of the match award he and Hilly looked like they have played together for years both are winners in the heart of defence and will be tested in the months to come. If the team sticks together over the next two to three months the results and performance will come.

Now for tougher opposition on Wednesday night Bridport home 7.45ko.

In contrast to the first team Willand Reserves turned on the style in the second half to record their first victory of the season. A game which was brilliantly officialled by the three people on duty, lead to an even first half. In the dying minutes of the half Willand were awarded a penalty which they failed to convert, leaving the score all level at half time.

In the second half Willand turned on the style, a second penalty was awarded this time Kenyon made no mistake to put Willand ahead. Tom Beddow then scored to double the lead. The scoring was not completed with Aiden Moyle scoring a classy double to give Willand an emphatic victory and to cap a fine game for young Moyle…….

We are indebted to Dominic Clark for the match report following another hugely disappointing result for the club – as the 1st team bowed out of the Devon Bowl – and missed the chance of a next round meeting with Torquay United, beaten by the odd goal in five at Ilfracombe – that a FOURTH straight defeat in all competitions this season!

Willand crashed out of the Devon Cup in the first round and thereby missed out of playing league side Torquay in the next round. In a game that Willand dominated possession but lacked any real punch in the final third, individual errors lead to Willand’s fourth defeat on the bounce.

It was great to see Willand legend Headley Steele back in the Willand colours but his presences could not stop the rot as Rovers slumped again and are out of their second cup competition within 4 days. Simon Hill came back from suspension to captain the side but even his influence could not stem the flow of soft goals conceded.

Willand start well with some crisp passing but it was Ilfracombe took the lead in the 14th minute when a back pass to the young keeper took a nasty bobbl

The Hills are alive with the sound of popping corks as Rovers turned on the fizz to produce a sparkling display of possession, passing and goal scoring. To give birthday boy Simon Hill a game to remember.

The veteran defender enjoyed another comfortable afternoon on the Silver Street turf. With what was a master class in defending, showing all the imperious skills of a man who for the last 20 years has played football at the top of his game.

Rovers started well and introduced the home fans to new signing Kevin Hill who was helping us out for the day. He slotted into left back and took the ‘granddaddy’ title off name sake Simon for the day.

Rovers’ wing wizard Luke Alden opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a trademark dazzling run; turning defenders inside out before unleashing a thunderbolt they flew through the keeper to give Rovers a deserved lead. For the rest of the half Rovers huffed and puffed a bit in front of goal with chances going a begging.

Winterborne were not just about defending. Their main threat came from the set piece and piled on the pressure with a number of corners and the odd free kick. But Simon Hill, Kevin Hill, James Clampin and Jake Wannell all kept the Reds away from the goal leaving keeper Paul Gibbins as virtual spectator.

Into the second half and Rovers first corner saw Kevin Hill rise highest at the far post to head home. The home fans were in raptures to be told that Hilly had scored. Simon’s mum and sister were in shock with what would have been a great birthday present only to be deflated that it was the other Hill that had scored.

A minute later Craig Veal far out on the right saw the keeper off his line, hit one from 35 yards and watched the ball nestle into the net. 3 nil Rovers and they were flying. Either brave goal keeping or last ditch defending kept the Rovers front line at bay. Veal got his second after good work from Alden and Western.

Dean Stamp was brought on with 10 minutes to go and he set up the third for Veal with a delightful chip over the keeper that seemed destined for the back of the net only for the inform striker to nip and make sure.

But the afternoon belonged to the birthday boy and the back line who slugged it out in the first half and who helped control the game in the second. Another Rolls Royce performance and another clean sheet.

35 years ago today: Notts Forest win the league and Liverpool the European Cup, Fleetwood Mac with Rumours were top of the album charts and Space Invaders were the FIFA14/GTA 5 of that year.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell ©. S Hill, Clampin, K Hill; Steele, Rogers, Hopkinson, Alden; Western, Veal. Subs: Jee for Clampin 46, Wadham for Alden 75, Stamp for Western 80

Rovers were good value for their win banishing the cup blues with a controlled performance against Street.

Paul Gibbins made two smart stops to keep the score level as Streeet started with a flourish. Once Rovers had weathered the storm our midfield controlled the game. Rogers and Hopkinson pulling the strings, Steele bombing up and down the flanks belying his years. Alden a constant threat on the left. Hill at the back was back to his majestic best with another assured perfomance.

Wannell scored Rovers first with a cool placed finsihed after Alden has beaten two players his cross  was flicked on to the on rushing Wannell for him to give Rovers the lead. Street were then reduced to 10 men after a two footed tackle was deemed reckless.

Into the second half and Rovers played some lovely one touch football. Veal, Western all tested the keeper,. But it was another Alden run that set up Veal to smash home.

Futher chances went a begging but Rovers ran out comfortable winners.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell(c), Clampin, Hill, Jee; Steele, Hopkinson, Rogers, Alden; Western, Veal; Subs Raybould for Jee 87 Wadham not used

Having conceded plenty in the last three games Rovers stopped the rot with a silky, sexy performance against lowly Hengrove. Lessons were learnt from last Saturday when you have side on the hock don’t let them off it.

Rovers started as a team on a mission Grove’s goalkeeper was in for a busy afternoon and made the first of a dozen saves during the game as early as the 5^th minute. In the 15^th minute he could not stop David Steele volley from the edge of the area to give Rovers a deserved lead. In the 24^th minute Grove were reduced to 10 men when their striker was given his marching orders for kicking out at Jake Wannell. Wannell was booked for showing intent when refusing to make a meal of the incident – bizarre. Rovers turned the screw when Craig Veal doubled our lead after good work from Luke Alden. Simon Hill was unlucky to get his first of the season when he goal bound header was cleared off the line with the keeper well beaten. Dan Western smashed a shot against the post as Rovers pushed forward. But in the 40^th minute Alden danced around three defenders then the keeper to slot home. As time ran out in the half Veal got his second with a smart finish. Into the second half and could Rovers keep this up? At times Rovers resorted to long balls but Grove’s keeper seemed to match everything thrown at him. Western shot hit a post and he put one narrowly wide. At last the efforts were rewarded with veal completing his hat trick as he stroked the ball past the keeper. In the 90^th minute Western let fly from 30 yards and the ball flew home straight and true. This result recorded Rovers biggest win of the season.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell ©, Hill, Clampin, Jee; Wadham, Steele, Hopkinson, Alden; Western, Veal. Subs: Raybold for Wadham 58, Rogers for Veal 89

Rovers entertained Slimbridge for the first time in a league match. For 45 minutes Rovers put the Hallen ghost to bed only for the old footballing cliché of being a game of two halves returned.

Simon Hill came back from suspension, Russell Jee started at left back and David Steele moved into midfield. For an hour Rovers purred with a silky performance of pace, panache, power and precision.

Rovers turned the screw with some flowing wing play, midfield balls hit their willing runners such a contrast to Wednesday night. But it was a well worked free kick one that has been practised in training that allowed Dan Western to let fly a thunderbolt to give Rovers the lead in the 25^th minute.

But as so often this season we seem to switch off after taking the lead but for a brave save at the Swans striker’s feet by Paul Gibbins kept Rovers ahead. Five minutes later the Swans left back danced past everyone and his shot shaved the post.  But for that 6 minute spell it was all Rovers Western got his second from the edge of the area and all seemed well at half time.

Into the second half and somehow Craig Veal and David Steele between them missed a good chance after a Luke Alden run. Another Alden cross evaded everyone. But as Rovers missed their chance to kill the game off Swans got one back with a 30 yard volley into the top corner. The game now became quite frantic with a spate of bookings. But Swans restored parity with the left back given too much time and space and although his shot was saved by Gibbins he pounced onto the rebound to bundle the ball home.

Rovers stung into action had two great chances to win it a Jee cross found Veal but his effort was clawed away at the keepers near post. As the minutes ticked away another Jee cross found Western but his lob fell invitingly into the Swans keepers arms.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell ©, Hill, Clampin, Jee: Wadham, Rogers, Steele, Alden; Western, Veal; Subs Hopkinson for Veal (80) Baily not used