Match Report
Cinderford Town v Willand Rovers
Willand made the journey over the border and back over again as the latest test in the Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South scheduled in Cinderford Town as the next stop on the 24/25 tour with a 3 pm KO at The Causeway Ground
A perfect day for football, with the temperature reaching the late 10’s, the summertime is knocking on the door but the end of the season also winging its way closer with just 4 fixtures after this afternoon.
Rovers made a couple of changes going into this fixture with both the Weston boys back from their Somerset Cup success with Josh Searle dropping to the bench for this fixture and Harvey Dorothy also in the dugout with a slight knock.
The lads emerged onto the pitch and we got underway with the first 10 being a strong period of time for Rovers who had settled into the game the best several chances fell our way but the book was open within the first five with Ryan Guppy’s name being jotted down.
The hosts would battle back for the next portion of the game with a couple of chances created of their own with the main one coming from Ross Edwards’ clearance which resulted in a corner for Yakabu to powerfully header towards the goal but narrowly just missed his target and back out.
Jacob Wellington continued to test the Cinderford back line as he looked to find their vulnerabilities quickly to feed the ball in with the clock ticking down for the first half, but the barrage of black and white did not collapse quickly.
However, our chances would pay off with Fin Rooke one one-on-one with the keeper which he flicked it over with a supporting rebound the organisation at the back was nowhere to be seen rovers took the lead with Fin wheeling away in celebration and the travelling faithful in jubilation.
That was the last action of the half and Willand went into the break feeling the better side but still had work to do in the second half to let the efforts of the first slip with only a one-goal cushion.
The Foresters knew a response was needed and they piled on the pressure in the early stages in which a handful of chances didn’t really produce a massive threat but they kept kicking on.
The substitutions started with Jacob Wellington making way for Douglas Camilo to add to the up top threat with Dougie going close to goal several times in the second half but just narrowly missing the target.
Off came the first goal scorer Fin Rooke with Jack Kennell sitting back into the midfield looking to feed balls back up but also providing some defensive comfort. The final sub-substitution of the afternoon saw Ryan Guppy make way for Josh Searle in the gameplan now would be to just keep in control of the game.
And this is exactly what Willand would go on to do with an important corner going into the box and being recycled in wonderful fashion as a great ping to the back heel of Ross Edwards doubled the lead with the centre-back in absolute joy with his first goal of the season coming from such a technical bit of skill.
It could’ve even been three with Camilo once again stepping up to the plate as River played it for the Brazilian who with a bit more power would have sealed the deal even further on the afternoon.
Cinderford were still hunting for a potential consolation goal and their one chance would be a shout for a penalty which to the referee’s knowledge there was no infringement and the game once again got back underway.
In a game of corners and little successful ones, the end of the fixture mainly was trying to produce a third nail in the Cinderford coffin but the job was over the line and solidified with a sounding of the whistle and three points on the road for the first time since our trip to Exmouth back in the first half of the season.
The lads once again huddled up for a post-match chat and spirits were high with Rovers next playing on home soil with Thatcham Town making the journey to Mid Devon on Saturday.
Full-time at The Causeway Ground on Saturday 5th April, Cinderford Town 2-0 Willand Rovers.
#WeAreRovers
