Saturday 4th October
Southern League – South
Willand Rovers 1-0 Frome Town
A first league defeat suffered for Danny Greaves’ side in a scrappy game down in Devon against Willand Rovers. The hosts came away with a one nil win thanks to Billy Kempster’s strike just before the end of the first 45 minutes.
And the Dodge did start on the front foot, as they had an opportunity inside just three minutes. David Duru found free space down the right-hand side but unfortunately he could only drag his shot wide of the left post.
Kempster showed Frome a little warning sign after 12 minutes when he had a little sighter on goal from the edge of the box. Kyle Phillips did have it covered however; that one was not troubling the Dodge number one.
Ten minutes later Willand looked threatening again as Ashton Hewitt’s strike from range was just wide of the target.
The match looked like it was going to go into half-time goalless with not many chances falling for either side. That was until the 41st minute when Rovers took the lead through Kempster’s effort on the edge of the D. It was a rather tame shot but it squirmed its way in off the post. The home side went into the break with their noses in front.
David Steele’s team nearly doubled their lead ten minutes into the second interval. This chance came from a neatly worked corner. Kempster was looking to become provider and found centre forward Tom Bath around 20 yards from goal. A great effort from Willand Rovers’ number nine and an even better save from Phillips to keep the Dodge in the game.
The Robins had limited number of chances for an equaliser in that second half. However, Duru came close when he hit the side netting and also the skipper Sam Teale had a header from a set piece that looped just over the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Bath had an opportunity to seal the win right at the end but he scuffed his strike wide of the post.
It did not matter for his side though as they grinded out a massive win at home, ending the Robins’ unbeaten start to the league.
However, they have a midweek off before a game next weekend at home to Falmouth Town, a perfect opportunity to put things right against a side who drew 0-0 against Swindon Supermarine in their most recent news.
Reports by Harry Minton
