Match Preview
Willand Rovers v Didcot Town
After a short break from league action midweek, Rovers return to the Southern League Division One South and back to Silver Street with a visit from Didcot Town this weekend with a 3 pm KO.
The retention of the St. Luke’s Bowl was cut short with Plymouth Parkway making the trip up the A38 and M5 on a bitter Wednesday night. In the first half, there were no goals to report but a second managerial sending-off in a row in Rovers fixtures as this time in a unique scenario the manager of Plymouth Parkway who was playing was sent off for a clash of heads with Fin Rooke.
With Parkway down to 10, there was a slight advantage going into the second half. 80 minutes on the clock, it was still a goalless affair but the heat was turned on with Aidan Whitfield flicking the ball into the back of the net to break the deadlock.
Parkway would respond well with a leveller just 2 minutes later, penalties would have to decide it on the night but it wasn’t to be for the Devon All-Whites as the Plymouth side advanced into the next round of the competition.
David Steele spoke to the club’s press after the game and stated that we should’ve seen the game out with the visitors down to 10 in the first half but that going out of the cup can let us focus back on league action.
This time round it is relegated side Didcot who make the trip to Silver Street and their Southern League campaign sees them currently 9th on 21 points this season with the Railwaymen currently being managed by Jamie Heapy.
Didcot Town are based out of Oxfordshire and is north of Reading and south of the capital Oxford with them playing out of Loop Meadow. A notable fixture in their history is an FA Cup first-round fixture where Exeter City travelled to Loop Meadow in which the Grecians booked their place into the next round with goals from Clinton Morrison, Tom Nichols and Alex Nicholls.
In their last 6, they have managed 7 points in those games they have lost away at Larkhall Athletic, won away at Cinderford Town, defeated Exmouth at home, had a ding-dong battle at Langsford Park which finished 3-3, and had a 5-3 defeat at home to Shaftesbury and finally in their most recent fixture a 3-2 midweek win over Falmouth at home.
One to watch for the visitors on Saturday is Jenson Wright who has scored 5 this season with 4 assists and is a Intelligent and with an eye for goal kind of midfielder who can change a game in an instant and has played at a higher level in the Southern League previously with Hanwell Town.
Another huge fixture this weekend at Silver Street as we race towards the midpoint of the season the fixture list ramps up and the pressure is on, the first of 4 in 2 weeks. All to play for.
#WeAreRovers
