Match Preview: Willand Rovers v Brixham AFC
Rovers’ final game of 2025 sees a Devon Derby take place at the Street with Brixham making the trip up from the English Riviera to the fields of Mid Devon in our “boxing day” fixture in the Southern Football League Division One South with a 3 pm KO.
Last time out for Rovers it was a trip to Gloucestershire to take on Bishops Cleeve. Willand started the strongest as Bailey Kempster fired into the bottom right within the first ten minutes but the hosts scrambled it over the line just a couple of minutes later through Jake Lee. The score was settled early in the second half with Curtis Jemmitt-Hudson ensuring the points stayed at base.
But the focus now flips onto Brixham who are in their inaugural Southern League campaign after beating Clevedon Town in the playoffs to step up into the division but it’s not been a dream start for them as they sit second bottom, equal on points to Rovers. However, for the South Devon side, it’s a new adventure and they are relishing every moment at the level.
While this week’s visitors were not in action at the weekend, their last game saw the Fishermen travel to Shaftesbury where the hosts made sure not to let any points jump out of the net on the day with goals from Harvey Bradbury and Toby Holmes providing the sting on Brixham.
One to watch for the blue army would have to be Charlie Johansen who has proven to be very important in decisive games where late winners and points have stemmed from his efforts. But that’s not the only man in the Brixham ranks to watch out for, former Rovers man Finn Herbert also now plays for the Fishermen and will be back to play against us. The bright youngster brought some great attacking threat in games and pace in abundance.
Despite never playing them at southern league level, we do have a previous matchup with Brixham as last season in our FA Cup campaign it was a 1-0 win as Fin Rooke’s 23rd minute strike sealed our place in the Second Qualifying round over this weekend’s visitors.
It is the last chance to catch Rovers in action in 2025 so head on down to Silver Street to witness a Devon Derby this festive season. The bar’s open from 1 so get your glasses filled and get behind the lads!
#WeAreRovers #COYR
