Jemmett-Hutson comes off the bench to earn Mitres all three points

Super sub Jemmett-Hutson gifted Bishops Cleeve a 2-1 win over Willand Rovers in what was a tight encounter at Kayte Lane on Saturday afternoon, writes Alfie Richmond.

After last week’s stoppage-time dagger to deny Cleeve a win at Larkhall, the Mitres were aiming to land themselves a play-off place come Christmas Day. A win would give them every chance to achieve the feat against Willand Rovers, who arrived at Kayte Lane rooted near the foot of the table and desperate to overturn a long winless run.

The visitors shocked the home side and went in front early through Bailey Kempster, who slotted past Lewis Clayton courtesy of a beautifully weighted pass from Ryan Guppy — and Willand were ahead after nine minutes.

But it didn’t take long for Cleeve to equalise. Just two minutes later, new boy Reagan Messenger nodded a header towards Jake Lee who bundled the ball in the net to level the scoring.

It was turning out to be quite the scrappy affair, with little quality being shown from both sides. Though on 27 minutes, Messenger had an effort saved by the leg of Rovers keeper Rhomey Ashby-Hammond — the closest they had come since equalising.

Messenger was in the thick of the action once again, with the referee brandishing a yellow card to the midfielder after a late challenge on Calum Thomas six minutes before the break.

It was a frustrating half for the home side, with Willand defending well and keeping Cleeve’s chances to a minimum. The visitors matched Cleeve’s intensity and ensured the sides went in level at the break, despite the hosts’ greater share of possession.

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The Mitres were denied a certain goal four minutes into the second half when Ashby-Hammond fumbled a cross that fell to the feet of Messenger, but the heroics of Liam Cartwright denied the new man from centimetres away.

Cartwright then fashioned himself an opening up the other end of the pitch moments later but his strike was blocked by Lee.

Another chance went begging for the away side on 54 minutes, as Charlie Bateson saw a double effort denied. His initial strike was blocked by Lee, before Clayton reacted sharply to make himself big and thwart the rebound.

Six minutes later it was the goal-scorer Kempster’s turn to be denied by Clayton. After a wonderful passage of play, Kempster worked the ball onto his left foot only for his shot to be tipped around the post. The visitors were really growing in confidence.

But Cleeve quickly put a stop in their tracks. Curtis Jemmett-Hutson made an instant impact off the bench, tucking away a looping header with what was his first touch — giving the home side the lead on 64 minutes.

That goal seemed to have taken the wind out of Rovers’ sails, with Cleeve starting to get more of a foot-hold on the game.

Eight minutes remained when substitutes Jack Watts and Devanti Mcinerney combined to look for a third, with the latter’s effort well stopped by Ashby-Hammond.

The two were denied once again by the Willand keeper a few minutes later, this time on separate occasions, forcing a brilliant double-save to deny a third.

Despite a late push from the visitors, Cleeve managed to deal with the pressure and hold their nerve to collect all three points.

Attention for Bishops Cleeve will quickly turn to a testing trip to Hartpury next Saturday, before The Mitres return home the following week to host Sporting Club Inkberrow. Willand Rovers face a crucial fixture of their own next, welcoming fellow strugglers Brixham in a key clash at the bottom of the table, before travelling to Falmouth Town the week after.

Subs: Liddiard (69’), Watts (55’), Jeremiah (72’), Mcinerney (72’), Jemmett-Hutson (63’)

Subs: Allen (81’), Cunningham (53’), Dorothy (78’), Rogers (69’), Jackson (90’)

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Jake Lee (Bishops Cleeve)