On a cold Tuesday night in Dorset, it was the matchup of the Rockies vs the Rovers in the Southern League Division One South. Both sides had come off the back of scoring 4 in their previous games which should’ve set it up for a goal fest.
Out of the blocks, a free kick for the hosts came in from the right and the side drilled towards the penalty spot where no one was marking the man in the middle as he had a clear shot on net but George Burton saved it well.
A loose ball from George Burton was played so he could get out of his box and ended with the Shaftesbury attacker trying to take his chance with an open net but in a difficult position just outside of the area he tried to whip it into the far post but it’s too high.
Rovers continued to try and get something in this first half with Some good build-up play as a good opportunity was made as Jacob Wellington shielded the ball from their full-back and crossed the ball onto Owen’s head but he wasn’t there yet and it led to nothing.
Another promising attack followed from Rovers as Owen Howe looked to drill the ball into Harvey Dorothy who wasn’t in the right place and a defender got his boot onto it and sent it for a throw-in.
George Burton brought his A-Game in the first half with a big double save to deny the hosts as he parried the first shot into the path of the Shaftesbury player who got another shot off but George recovered well and could get to that as well in the neck of time.
Willand continued to pressure and carve chances with Harvey Dorothy threading a perfect pass through to Ashton Hewitt as he tried to get onto the end of it but the brave Shaftesbury keeper came out to claim the ball.
George was having the half of his life with another save this time from the feet as a blocked shot found its way to a man at the front post at point-blank range and with a little bit of room to shoot at the front post George could get down and save well at the feet.
The next test for the Rockies was a Free kick in a promising position, River Allen lined up to curve it in from the left-hand side of the box, and with him looking to power the ball into the box a Shaftesbury defender gets his head onto the ball to put it out for a corner.
Harvey was hungry for a goal in the first half with the shot as a long ball was chested down by Owen Howe and saw Harvey Dorothy running into the path of the ball as he tried to hit the volley the first time but he launched the ball over the bar.
Half-time at Cockrams, somehow it ends 0-0 with some chances from both teams but goalkeeper George Burton keeps Rovers in the game. A big 45 was expected out of the lads.
The hosts tried to break the deadlock with a clear-cut chance from the right-hand side as a weighted ball was played through to the right winger and the shot was high and wide towards the far post.
Jack Kennell with his nifty feet played the ball to River Allen and he tried to curl the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. This showed the determination in which David Steele’s men had to get it right in the second half.
10 minutes from time and a very slow second half from both sides with little to no chances for either side even with the subs trying to make a difference nothing is changing.
Shaftesbury fans must’ve been riled up by this point with another big miss from the hosts as the attacker trips over the ball after George Burton is drawn out of his box. The direct response leads to a Willand counter as Fin Rooke and Phil Mendonca link up to drill the ball which ends in a corner.
Late goal for the hosts with EFL veteran Brett Pittman on his second debut for the home side scoring with a looped cross that goes into the centre of the area and the attacker gets his head in it as he gets the ball past George Burton who gets his hands on it.
Full-time on the Dorset/Wiltshire Border and it wasn’t to be on the night for Willand but points to take on board before the next clash in the league with Bashley on Saturday.
#WeAreRovers
