Post by Dave on May 13, 2017 11:18:07 GMT
Final Score Buckfastleigh Rangers 11 Waldon Athletic 0
Is it really as long ago as the 12th February 2011 I last watched and covered a game at the Duckspond? That day I was there to support my son who was playing for then top of the table Marldon against Buckfastliegh Rangers 2nd.
Back then I only covered games my son was playing in and I look back at those times with a warm heart as one of the most lower league prolific goal scorers ever, banged in goals for fun. Sadly Marldon football club are no longer along with a good number of other local clubs that have fell by the wayside.
Thankfully my love of local football remained and I have enjoyed covering games at many levels and along the way have made some very good friends. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the clubs that have made me so welcome, all the club mangers and match referees for their help with team sheets etc, without you all there would be no local football.
The match on the 12th February 2011
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/110/buckfastleigh-2nd-marldon-12th-2011
Match Preview
So onto today’s first team game against Waldon 2nd and a chance for me to say hello again to an old former work colleague match referee Steve Hulse. I met Steve for the first time in years while covering a recent game at the Stoke Gabriel’s ground, it was one of those meetings when you know the other person from somewhere, but can’t for the life of you remember. It took me nearly a week after that game to come up with the answer as I didn’t want to seem rude by asking at the time where do I know you from.
Buckfastleigh Rangers have enjoyed a good season and should finish in third place in the table behind Salcombe Town and this seasons league champions Paignton Saints. For Walldon 2nd it has been a completely different story and looks very likely to finish in the bottom spot which I must say I find hard to believe. But there are other clubs in the second division such as Dartmouth AFC 2nds who one would have expected to be much higher up the table.
Both Clubs league record to date.
Buckfastleigh have played twenty four games, winning fourteen, drawing four and losing six giving them a total of forty six points. Along the way they have scored seventy one goals, conceded forty five giving them a plus twenty six goal difference.
Waldon 2nd have played a total of twenty three games, winning just four of them, drawing two and losing seventeen giving them a points total of fourteen points. Along the way they have scored only twenty eight goals and conceded a massive eighty one giving them a minus fifty three goal difference.
Last week Buckfastleigh Rangers lost out in the final of the Lidestone Cup against Salcombe Town by two goals to one. There game before that was a home walkover against Satverton Afc and the game before that were surprising beaten by four goals to one away to Bishopsteignton United. Buckfastleigh Rangers last league win was at home against Liverton 2nd a game they won by five goals to two.
Waldon lost their last league game at home by three goals to one against Brixham Town but did win their game before that away to Liverton 2nd by one goal to nil
Can Waldon win their second away game on the trot? On paper this game looks like a home win, but football can be a funny old game as we all know.
Match Report
Firstly I would like to apologise for the lateness of the posting of this match report. My dear old mate Steve Hulse insisted on buying me a drink after the game and then talked my ears off to way past 10pm. Steve is a top bloke and just also happens to be one of the best referees in the South Devon League.
I was not expecting such a high scoring game today, but then I suppose there is a reason why one of today’s teams was third in the league table and the other one at the very bottom of it.
While the score line might suggest this was a very one sided match( which it probably was) Waldon did their best to try and play as big a part in the game that they could and came close on a few occasions to at least getting one consolation goal.
Buckfastleigh were just too good all over the pitch and were able to tear apart the Waldon defence with ease and could have won by an even higher score line.
While both sets of players were warming up, match referee Steve Hulse entertained the crowd with his own unique warming up exercises. One person was close to calling the police as Steve rolled around on the floor flashing is belly. Someone else thought an ambulance should have been called instead, but in the end Steve was able to get back onto his feet and get the game underway.
Bucks started the better of the two teams but the first half chance fell to Waldons Callum McBarry who hit a good shot from the edge of the buck’s box that just went wide of the right hand post.
The game was less than ten minutes old when Buck’s took the lead, a good low ball was played into the box from the left and side for Declan Cowley to fire home.
Waldon were doing their best to get back into the game and for a short while it became an end to end game, but Buck’s soon added to their early lead.
Declan Cowley took a shot from inside the Waldon box that was saved low down by a one handed save by the Waldon keeper Matthew James. I was writing this down when Tayler Pierce scored. I missed the goal itself, but have been told Taylor took the ball around the keeper and then hit it into the back of the net.
Waldon then found themselves three goals behind when they failed to clear the ball out of the danger area a number of times before the ball fell at the feet of Declan Cowley to almost roll the ball over the goal line for his second goal of the match.
Darren Greep made it four nil to the Buck’s when he headed the ball in at the far post from a high cross into the box from the left hand side of the pitch virtually unchallenged
There was time for one more goal for the Buck’s before the break, a great powerful shot from the edge of the box that found the top right hand corner of the goal, I believe I’m right in saying it was Tayler Pierce who took the shot. .
The second half got underway and Waldon had an early effort on goal that looked goal bound before being deflected behind for Waldons first corner of the game.
The pace an movement of the Buck’s forwards was proving to much for the Waldon defence to handle and Buck’s always looked like scoring more goals every time they got the ball forward. Danger man Declan Cowley hit another good shot from the edge of the Waldon box that keeper Matthew James did well to push behind for a corner.
Every forward pass by Bucks were now playing in their forwards in behind the Waldon defence and it was no real surprise to see Declan Cowley in on goal with just the keeper to beat, he coolly passed the ball past the keeper and over the goal line.
So six nil and would there be any more goals? Well yes number seven was soon on its way after a wonder run and finish by Finn Cowley. Number eight was a result of Waldon once again failing to clear the loose ball from the danger area that allowed Finn Cowley to score again for his side.
Finn Cowley was then played into the left hand side of the Waldon box with just the keeper to beat and hit a low shot past the outstretched left hand of the keeper.
It became more like a target practice as shots were rained in on the Waldon goal, a good number of them ended up going high over the crossbar.
Goal ten a very well executed over head kick by Darren Greep close in, he made it look so easy and thankfully I got the action shot.
Goal eleven and thankfully the last one of the match, a good powerful shot just inside the right hand side of the Waldon box across the keeper into the far corner of the net by Tayler Pierce.
Buckfastleigh looked a good side today with a good mix of a few old heads and young players full of running and the ability to find the back of the net.
Waldon were just not able to play as a complete team today, but they did their best to make a game of it and took this heavy defeat firmly on the chin.
Many thanks for all the help today with the filling in of numbers etc on the team sheet. Thanks also to Steve for the after match drinks and a very entertaining evening.
