Category: Team news

Watchet 0 Willand U16’s 6 (Taunton and District Division One)
Willand maintained top spot in the Taunton and District Division One Table with a convincing win away at Watchet Town despite only having the bare eleven players available.
The Watchet team started out with real intent and the back five of goalkeeper Ben Gubb, full backs Haydn Tucker and Tristan Hawkins and the centre back pairing of Tom Prout and Matt Futcher laid the solid foundation which eventually ensured the points came home to Devon. It took almost 25 minutes before the deadlock was broken when Rovers top scorer Oscar Walsh scored number 17 of another goal laden season when he expertly lobbed home after being put through superbly by Jack Hobday.
The first half saw a number of chances being created notably through the wing wizardry of Branden Simsek and the mastery of Chaz Dodd once more playing the lone front man role to perfection. However, Watchet kept themselves in the game with the half time whistle sounding at 1-0 to the Rovers.
It took another ten minutes of the second half for Willand nerves to ease with the crucial second goal when a sublime through ball from centre half Tom Prout enabled Oscar Walsh to fire past the home keeper. This goal saw resistance from the home side begin to crumble as a mere three minutes later Jack Hobday raced clear from his midfield berth to smash the ball home for 3-0.
Two more goals followed in quick succession both from the expert dead ball delivery of Branden Simsek as centre half Matt Futcher helped himself to two goals from corners on 65 and 70 minutes respectively.
The midfield trio of Captain Tom Jeacock, Hobday and Chris Badcott dominated possession for Willand throughout the second half and on 82 minutes the final goal of the game was hit home by Chris Badcott from just outside the box for a comprehensive 6-0 scoreline for Willand U16’s.
Man of the Match was the dominant Matt Futcher for the perfect Centre Half performance. He was run close by Tristan Hawkins and Oscar Walsh.
Goals were scored by Walsh 2, Futcher 2, Hobday 1 and Badcott 1.
The Willand Line up: Ben Gubb, Tom Prout, Matt Futcher, Tristan Hawkins, Haydn Tucker, Charlie Dodd, Tom Jeacock (Capt), Jack Hobday, Chris Badcott, Branden Simsek and Oscar Walsh.
Tony Badcott
Willand U16’s

Wembdon U16’s 1 – 6 Willand U16’s

The Rovers U16’s made clear their Championship credentials by demolishing last year’s league champions Wembdon 6-1 on their own patch at Cannington College.
The Willand team began on the front foot and scored within three minutes when Chaz Dodd threaded a perfect ball through the Wembdon defence for Oscar Walsh to finish exquisitely. One lapse of concentration let the Somerset team back in who levelled after nine minutes. However, the lead was restored for Rovers when Walsh again capitalised this time on an incredible assist from goalkeeper Sam Hill to make it 2-1 after 12 minutes. Willand’s back line of goalkeeper Hill, Hawkins, Futcher, Badcott and Tucker were throughout the first half impossible to break down which coupled with the composure and industry of captain Tom Jeacock, Jacob Turner and the influential Jack Hobday in midfield ensured the solid platform required to get on top of the opposition. Wembdon were unable to stop the attacking prowess of Garreth Blackmore, Walsh or Dodd and the game was effectively killed off when Walsh completed his hat trick after yet more link up play from Dodd saw Rovers to a well-deserved 3-1 interval lead.
Half time substitutions saw Dylan Nicholas coming into the heart of the defence, Tom Prout into the midfield engine room and Branden Simsek on the wing. Such is the strength in depth of the Willand squad that it was business as usual in the second half as Prout proved his versatility with perhaps his finest display to date. Simsek showed his class and powerful wing play by supplying assists in the second half for a fourth goal for Walsh as well as an inch perfect cross for Garreth Blackmore to net his first Rovers goal of the season on 65 minutes. Occasionally Wembdon would test the Rovers backline but new signing and centre half Dylan Nicholas demonstrated a calmness and authority on the ball which bodes well for the future. The game was wrapped up toward the end of the game when Blackmore once more showed his poacher’s instinct to wrap up a flowing move instigated by midfield dynamo Hobday to make the final score Wembdon 1 Willand 6.
Man of the Match was the mercurial Oscar Walsh. Although Chris Badcott and Chaz Dodd ran him very close for MOM.
Goals were shared out on the day between Walsh 4 and Blackmore 2.
The Willand Line up: Sam Hill, Chris Badcott, Matt Futcher, Haydn Tucker Tristan Hawkins, Charlie Dodd, Jacob Turner, Gareth Blackmore, Tom Jeacock (Capt), Jack Hobday and Oscar Walsh. Subs: Tom Prout, Dylan Nicholas, and Branden Simsek.

Tony Badcott
Willand U16’s

Willand U16 player Oscar Walsh has been called up to play for the Devon FA U16’s team to play Dorset on Sunday 23rd October. Fellow Willand U16 Garreth Blackmore has been selected for the reserve list for the same game.

Well done to both boys on their achievement

Tony Badcott
Manager U16’s