Willand travelled to Gloucestershire to play Bishops Cleeve for another away game on Saturday in the Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South. With a few players out due to suspension, it meant that we had to have a young and inexperienced front line today with Jacob Wellington taking the striker role.
A first attempt from Ross Edwards as a free kick was taken by River Allen and Ross headed the ball towards goal but the keeper saved it. The corner to come then got sent towards Harley Sneap who pivots but his shot goes over the crossbar.
A wave of Bishops Cleeve attacks came through as one shot from frontman Ethan Dunbar hit the upright and another shot from long range cleared the crossbar. The Mitres felt mighty in the first half with another attack as a simultaneous sigh is heard from all around the ground as Ross Langworthy’s shot drags wide.
On loan Plymouth Argyle youngster Harley Sneap wanted to prove his ability and an opportunity arose with him being put in the starting XI in he took a brilliant strike on from outside the box as it flew like an arrow towards the bottom left-hand corner but the shot was just wide and it was a goal kick to the hosts.
Rovers were reduced to 10 on the stroke of halftime as Ashton Hewitt gets sent for an early shower by the man in the middle. The pressure was on for the next 45. Half-time at Kayte Lane with a massive second half to come up.
A clear chance for the hosts went to waste as the attacker was 5 yards out and shot straight towards George Burton who caught the ball. A lovely cross from a free kick went into the box by Allen and Harley Sneap gets the last touch which goes just wide.
An open header for Cleeve as their giant Left-Back goes for it but the shot is too high and goes out for a corner. Shot for Jamie Richards as River puts in yet another lovely free kick which Jamie can get onto the end of but not enough power and direction as it was into the keeper’s grasp.
Off the line from Ross Edwards as Bishops Cleeve have an opportunity to pull the ball back from the bi-line and tap it in for 1-0 but is unsuccessful on this occasion. Rovers would try to break the deadlock again with a chance for Willand as Douglas Camilo played a ball through to Tom Chastey he shot and dragged it well wide.
With ten to go the score remained at 0-0 and a goal either way would put the game to bed. Huge double save from both bottom corners as the first came off his strong foot and the second he tipped out for a corner denying an acrobatic attempt.
George Burton holds onto the ball for too long and the ref calls it for an indirect free-kick, it’s blocked well by the Willand wall and a sigh of relief can be heard from the M5
Full-time on a rainy afternoon in the Gloucestershire countryside and all even and points were shared after being down to ten in the first half.
The next game for Rovers will be a visit from Melksham Town on the 7th December, your support is massively appreciated as we go into the Christmas period 👏
#WeAreRovers
