Category: Team news

Our third friendly of the summer saw us back on on home soil as Willand took on fellow mid-Devon side Tiverton Town. We saw returns to Willand for keeper George Burton and striker Jacob Wellington who had opted to head over the road to Ladysmead. After a draw with Taunton Town the week before, there was a sense of optimism in the air ahead of this fixture with a bumper crowd anticipated.

The game started off strong with both teams going neck to neck to try and put themselves on the front foot in this fixture. However, it would be Willand who took the lead with a cross from Douglas Camilo was met by Tom Bath’s bouldering header which rattled past George Burton to give the Rovers the lead in the 26th minute.

Tiverton sought out opportunities and created further chances which applied pressure on a much changed Rovers backline. It would be from a corner in which Sowden-Bird despite his best efforts couldn’t keep out and Tiverton manager Asa Hall dusted his boots off and brought back a classic by levelling the scoring.

The game was all square going into half-time with both teams looking to get the win with our visitors just 10 miles from Silver Street themselves. This is as local as it gets but the pre-season spirit was about to take a turn as both sides came out hunting for bragging rights.

The second half started off like the first with both teams controlling the game and it looked like anyone could win. The yellows then took control and started taking shots and would take the lead when former Willand striker Jacob Wellington curled the ball into the bottom right corner to put themselves in front for the first time on the afternoon.

Andy Sowden-Bird was called on a few more times after the goal with Tiverton looking to secure a third and winning goal. However, it would go the other way in the 82nd minute when Alex Parsons brought Willand back level with a solid strike which would bring the last of the action of the day

Full time at Silver Street, the game ends all square with Tom Bath and Alex Parsons getting the goals for the Rovers and it continues our impressive form.

Willand is still unbeaten in pre-season. They go on the road to take the trip up the M5 to play Bridgwater United at Fairfax Park. Then, after that, we have our final pre-season match against Honiton Town, where we will be on the street one more time before the season starts.

Willand Rovers magic numbers for the 19/7/25 are 4-5-18-24 there’s no winners prize for the 26/7/25 is £925

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Our second game at the Stan Robinson Stadium sees us taking on Tiverton Town. Our first game of pre-season saw us go up to Bishop’s Lydeard, where we got a convincing 2-0. Then we played Taunton Town, and after a valiant effort, we left that game with a draw.

In that game, we saw debutants like Cameron Page get on the score sheet and bring some more momentum to the club. Our next game is against Tiverton Town, which should provide a good atmosphere and, overall, a very good game of football. The main hope is that we can continue our good form that we have obtained in the first two games of pre-season.

The one to watch is their defender Toby Down. He came up through the ranks at Exeter City before joining clubs like Taunton, Bideford AFC and Plymouth Parkway. He has got experience when it comes to leading the line and will no doubt look to form a rock-solid defence when he comes to the Stan Robinson.

Tiverton have got some familiar names in their squad also from days past at Silver Street. Keeper George Burton and striker Jacob Wellington both left Rovers at the end of last season to head over the road and will be looking to make an impact against us on Saturday. Over the years both sides have swapped names in the dugouts, but what binds the clubs is Mid Devon pride.

This match should be exciting for both sides involved, both teams being another Southern Premier League team to contend with. If the Taunton Town game was anything to go by, then we should be in for action on both sides of the pitch. Get behind the lads for another pre-season test as we work towards the start of the season.

Our second game at the Stan Robinson sees us taking on Wellington. Our first pre-season game took us up to Bishop’s Lydeard, where we got a convincing 2-0. Then on Friday, we played Taunton Town, and after a valiant effort, we left that game with a draw.

In that game, we saw debutants like Cameron Page get on the score sheet and bring some more momentum to the club. Our next game is against Wellington, which should provide a good atmosphere and, overall, a very good game of football. The main hope is that we can continue our good form that we have obtained in the first two games of pre-season.

The one to watch is Jack Winsor; he is a 21-year-old central midfielder who has experience in this league with the likes of Bideford AFC. He has played for the likes of Torquay and was even on loan with the Rovers in the 22/23 season. He is by far Wellington’s best player and will make our midfield work.

This match marks the midway point of what has been an exciting pre-season for Rovers fans as we drew with very good opposition in Taunton Town. With trialists impressing, things are looking promising for the Rovers, and we are hoping that we can bring that good form onto the field on Wednesday.

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.