Rovers made the trip up the M5 to Gloucestershire at the weekend as our latest test in the Southern Football League Division One South consisted of the Mighty Mitres of Kayte Lane. Cleeve sat just outside the playoffs before kick-off, coming off the back of a 4-4 draw at Larkhall whilst Willand’s point at Manor Farm looked promising going forward.
Underway at 3, the game started well with both sides looking to carve out solid chances with the gas firmly on the pedal. Cleeve broke first from a corner with Ashby-Hammond providing an important save to recover a potential banana peel start for Rovers.
It didn’t take long for Bailey Kempster to get off the mark: in the 9th minute, a defensive error from the Cleeve defender gave Guppy the confidence to stand on and send it to Bailey, who ran into the box and slotted comfortably into the right-hand corner to take the lead for us.
However, just 2 minutes later, Cleeve managed to level it up. Bateson lost the ball on the edge of the box, which let the hosts regain possession and build on their confidence, with it swinging in from the right-hand side for a half-volley header. Ashby Hammond was vulnerable and unable to recover, with Jake Lee just bundling it over.
From there it would be the hosts who created a tsunami of chances which with a few bits of creativity could’ve troubled Rovers but mostly hit the fencing rather than ripping the net on those occasions. Rovers would have a couple of bites at goal ourselves including a free kick or two but nothing that shocked the hosts’ keeper.
Half-time and a big push was needed from Rovers with the hosts pushing Willand incredibly hard throughout the first 45, the break was complete and right back underway by 10 past 4. By then a few steam trains had gone past as well.
The second half, like the first, had Rovers thinking fast with Cleeve digging their heels in. Guppy got pushed off the ball with the mitres breaking away from the right-hand side, Ashby-Hammond was required once again to produce some heroics to not let the hosts take the lead with Cartwright coming in for backup.
Rovers potentially could’ve taken the lead with Bateson going through on goal from the right-hand side, however, the keeper dashed off his line to swipe the ball and Charlie away from danger. Responses were coming but just not rattling the netting.
The turning point in the fixture came in the 64th minute as Curtis Jemmett-Hudson took the lead for Cleeve. From the right-hand side, a dangerous cross winged its way where Josh Ford tried to header it away but it landed in the path of another Cleeve player who sent it back in for Hudson to strongly header and secure the hosts’ points.
Willand continued not let the scoreline get in their heads and played like it was 0-0 with several opportunities coming our way from corners but no recipients to add to the scoresheet on those occasions. It was looking like another tough afternoon for the lads.
Cleeve still wanted more goals in the half too, acrobatics and near misses came Rhomey’s way. Rovers had one big bite left to chew out of the Cleeve backline as the hosts completely scrambled and looked uneasy with Willand throwing the kitchen sink at goal but no leveller could be found and the man in the middle sounded the whistle.
Against a top side in the division, Willand gave a good account of themselves but Cleeve proved why they had that label as one of the promotion favourites and gaining another three points which puts them 9 points apart from Exmouth. Rovers however will be in the relegation zone on Christmas Day by being third bottom.
Willand next take on Brixham in a Devon Derby in our “Boxing Day” fixture which takes place this season on Saturday 27th December, the real fight will be the relegation clash but the action in the Southern League never fails to deliver.
