Category: Headlines

Willand Rovers 3 Plymouth Argyle 2
Devon St Lukes Bowl quarter-final

Willand duly set up the juicy possibility of a St Lukes Bowl semi-final derby with Cullompton Rangers after they finally got past a young and resolute Argyle side, mainly made up of their SW Peninsula League squad and watched by first team boss Derek Adams, on Wednesday night writes Kerry Miller.
In the end the difference was a clumsy challenge on Craig Veal in the penalty area which he got up to punish from the spot, for his second goal of the evening which was all the more frustrating for Argyle, who rallied well and dominated for enough of the second half to all but take the tie to penalty kicks.
On what was a chilly and windy night at Silver Street Argyle got off to the perfect start when Luke Jephcott was on the end of a cross from the right and drilled a shot under keeper Mike Searle on 13 minutes. The lead lasted little more than one attack as Rovers put together a fine move and Josh Searle was on the end of a deft flick to drive home the equaliser past Michael Cooper.
The mainly teenage visitors all had pace but they struggled to contain Veal, who was lightning fast and he almost beat Cooper to the ball only to be blocked out at the last second. Willand were looking good going forward in what was a match full of skill while being devoid of nastiness or dissent and as the action continued Brad Ausden blazed over the bar and onto the road from the edge of the area midway through the half. The reprise lasted moments as just past the half hour Luke Alden released Veal and he timed his shot to perfection over Cooper to give his side the lead.
Ausden then watched as Cooper tipped away his shot before at the other end Jephcott headed wide from a promising position but young Cooper made the save of the half late on to deny Alden. He rode hi sluck just on the break as once again Veal’s pace was too much for the defence and his cross found Ausden stretching from two yards out but somehow the ball crashed against the bar And stayed out.
From the restart Argyle got stronger and Billy Craske was seeing plenty of the ball and was beginning to stand out and when he set up Dan Rooney, the striker’s shot from 15 yards went over rather than in as Willand were almost punished for dozing off. Seven minutes into the half it all changed as Veal was clattered from behind in the area and he made it a double from the spot to give his side a two goal cushion, just as news came through that Cullompton were on their way to winning in the other quarter-final at Exmouth Town.
Willand should in truth have gone on to win with ease but they allowed Argyle to build momentum and after Veal had crashed shot into the side-netting Argyle’s Tom Purrington went onto a solo mission and his left foot effort sailed just wide with Searle watching on. Cameron Sangster then floated a free-kick in and the strong wind all but carried it in but Searle was alert and tipped the ball away, only to be beaten just past the hour mark. A cross from the left was missed by all except Craske who was on the far post and made no mistake to pull it back to 3-2.
Willand had dropped back deep which allowed Argyle to press on and Craske again brought a save out of Searle then from a corner triallist Sandro Embalo had a header saved but the equaliser would not come and having weathered the storm Willand all but made it safe late on as Luke Mortimore and Alden combined to force Cooper to parry out to Veal but it was kept out and Willand take their place in the last four alongside Cullompton Rangers.

Kerry Miller
Press and Media Officer
Toolstation Western League

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Willand Rovers 3 Longwell Green Sports 0
Premier Division

With the home side fielding new boy Owen Howe and the visitors arriving with just a single league point to show for their efforts so far this season, it all pointed to a goal fest at Silver Street on Saturday writes Kerry Miller.
That prediction looked to becoming a reality inside ten minutes as Howe netted twice past a shell-shocked defence but to the immense credit of all concerned they then kept a clean sheet for 75 minutes and could easily have embarrassed the title challengers but for some weak shooting and naïve finishing before substitute Brad Ausden wrapped it up with a third neat the end.
Longwell Green began well with Otis Williams feeding Stuart Harmer but his strike was easily saved by Mike Searle but Howe was soon in the action as his power took him through but he was denied by the excellent young keeper Adam Forster who had a fine match and was fazed by what happened in the following few minutes. Luke Mortimore tormented the defence for an hour and his first contribution ended with Craig Veal’s effort falling nicely for Howe top stab home from two yards before he threw over a cross to the far post and Howe nodded it in despite the desperate scrambling on the line.
Sports looked lively going forward on an awkward surface on a cold and blustery afternoon and Liam Oswin broke to set up Williams but his shot from 25 yards lacked conviction. Forster then kept out a Brett Worbey free-kick before on the half hour a free-kick from Sports’ Toby Clifton found Jow Woodley but his header landed on the roof of the net. Thew pace of Veal and Mortimer was causing problems but the visitors were coping and as the disappointing half ended Howe hit another drive which Forster saved.
On the restart Veal should have made it 3-0 after Ryan Guppy set him up but Forster was again equal blocking his effort almost on the line but Sports were still keen to play and Clifton had a shot saved by Searle. Just before the hour Mortimore was replaced by Fletcher Williams but the defence slumbered briefly and gave the ball away but Clifton was unable to take advantage of the home side’s sloppy play.
The chances continued to come as Veal shot just over and then volleyed Howe’s cross inches wide but in between there was another wake up call when Dan Caswell shot over and substitute Ben Allen had a shot saved by Searle. Finally with minutes left on the clock it was left to another substitute, Brad Ausden to latch onto a quickly taken throw in and ram home the third to put a slightly better gloss on what was a disjointed home performance.
Rovers are still well on course and have the local derby with Wellington coming up this Saturday followed by the much-anticipated Devon St Lukes Bowl tie at home to Plymouth Argyle on December 6. The visit to improving Bridgwater Town on Dec 9 will be another test of the Silver Street side.

Regards

Kerry Miller
Press and Media Officer
Toolstation Western League

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