Opponents No.5 - Weston Villa

Rovers' Midlands rivals Weston Villa spent most of the 70s in the Second Division. However promotion and a First Division place was secured in 1980/81 as Villa went up as Champions. They quickly established themselves as a challenger, tricky winger Johnny Barret the star providing crosses for target man Chris Cook.

With First Division status secured Villa concentrated on the cups. The promotion winning side ran to the League Cup final in 1982 only to lose out 2-1 to a Nipper Lawrence inspired Blackport Rovers. Villa denied the Cup on the ten year anniversary of their first ever trophy.

The Villa fans were rewarded again with a run to the F.A. Cup Final in 1982/83 only to be defeated by a strong Kingsbay team featuring the Marks Brothers. But Weston Villa were now genuine challengers and known as a great cup side. Another good run in the F.A. Cup was ended by Melchester Rovers at the semi-final stage in 1983/84. Roy Race scoring 4 in a crushing 5-1 defeat. Chris Cook had scored a spectacular forty-yard opener in the first minute.

Strong form in the Cup would continue through to the late 80s. Elton Jarvis, the Villa's latest tricky winger, was the inspiration in a famous win over Melchester Rovers at Wembley. Jarvis' goal, and fourteenth of the season, equalised Roy Race's early opener.

Centre forward, Don Evans' strike from Jarvis' through-ball gave Villa a deserved lead. But it would take an amazing last minute penalty save from Gerry Archer to deny Roy Race and Weston Villa's second major trophy was safe - the 1987/88 F.A. Cup in the bag!

Melchester Rovers would gain their revenge two years later, as Villa minus Archer, Jarvis and Evans were beaten 2-1. Tony Rapson was the new star Villa winger, and it was the number 7 who netted inside the first ten minutes to level the scores after Roy Race's seventh minute free-kick had given Rovers the lead.

Villa would dominate the rest of the first half, with Blackie Gray having a storming match as defensive midfielder. However Roy Race's tactical switch, bringing on Gary Gunn for Blackie, changed the shape of the match and the destiny of the Cup. Weston Villa hearts were broken as Gunn set up Andy MacLaren for a late winner - the big Scot powering in the rebound after Foster had parried Gunn' shot.

The early 90s would be a quiet time for Weston Villa, however things were about to hot up. While Melchester Rovers struggled spending two seasons in the First Division, Weston Villa would establish themselves as the new giants of the Midlands.

A series of dramatic encounters would follow Rovers' promotion back to the Premier League and Villa just could not beat their rivals. But that was not a problem as a first Premier League title was secured in 1998/99, Villa going unbeaten at home, including a run of six successive victories approaching the F.A. Cup Quarter-Final. Rovers sprung a surprise in that match, but Villa's championship charge was not to stopped!

Melchester Rovers would again prove a thorn in the side of their Midlands rivals, defeating the league winners to take the Charity Shield at the start of the 1999/2000 season. It was a sign of things to come for Villa, as their Premier League title defence would go right to the wire. Despite leading for most of the season, the title would be decided on the final day of the season at Mel Park. Graham gave Villa an early lead, but goals from the in-form duo of Declan McKaffree and Rocky Race won the title for Rovers!

Rovers may well have been Champions now, but Weston Villa were now a real force in English football. A team to be feared and they would finally gain another victory over Rovers, in the Cup of course, 1-0 in the 2001 Quarter-Final!

Notes:
- Weston in referred to as a big Midlands city so could quite easily accommodate Weston Athletic, who appear regularly in the early 70s as a second club.
- The rename to Western Villa in the late 90s is ignored.