Post by Dave on Apr 18, 2022 7:39:55 GMT
Match Officials Matthew Uren. Dillon Gascoigne. Gary Hammon.
Final Score Buckland Athletic 6 Bitton AFC 0
Match Preview
It always happens when I attend a game at the Heath, I just end up feeling I am Oliver Twist, “ please sir can I have some more” This Buckland boy just feels so much at home when at the Heath, a great ground a great club where the football is always entertaining.
I was proud to be at the Roy Holmes Memorial Match last August to remember and celebrate with the Buckland family the life of such a wonderful man.
I was also glad I was at the game in January to pay our respects to the wonderful Rose Glanfield, a lady who like Roy was also a very big part of the Buckland family. I will never forget the day when her two grandchildren Emily and Katie who had tickets to attend the T4 on the Beach Concert, gave up those tickets to support The Walk For Carol for my late wife in July 2011 to raise money for breast cancer research.
I was also pleased to be at the game on Good Friday to pay our respects to club sponsor and supporter Derek Carnell, another great lose for the club. Life has to go on and the club in their honour and memory will always strive to be the best club possible both on and off the field, it’s the Buckland way.
We leaned on Saturday that the club has chosen the successor for Paul Froude, but instead of a first team manager the club has gone down the head coach route and appointed Dan Hart to fill that role. Adam Castle has been the first to admit the team has under performed this season as far as the league goes, but we must no forget the wonderful FA Vase run the lads went on and how they were very unlucky not to win their fifth round tie against Newport Pagnell.
I am sure Dan Hart will bring much success to the club next season and wish him well in his new role. From the day the first ball was ever kicked at Sandringham Park, Buckland Athletic has always looked forwards and upwards to become one of the best clubs in Devon.
Today is the last home fixture of the 2021/2022 season for the first team and the team will hope to make it a winning one for all the Buckland fans. Win or lose we all know they will give their all and wear their Buckland shirts proudly.
Before today’s game Buckland were in 10th place in the league table on 47 points, their record is 13 wins, 8 draws and 13 defeats and they have a plus 8 goal difference,
Bitton AFC is currently in 12th place in the league on 45 points. They also have won 13 games, drawn 6 and lost 15 and have a minus 4 goal difference.
Buckland travelled to the Bitton newly named ground “The Midland Spinner Stadium” in February and came away with a single point after the game finished one all. After their fine defensive performance against Tavistock on Good Friday, Buckland will look to be able to play a more attacking game and end this final home game on a high note.
Match report
That is the way you say thank you for your support all season to your fans in the final home game of the season. We could have stayed at Homers Heath until midnight on Good Friday and still not have seen a single goal. But today we were treated to not just one, but six as Buckland blew away the opposition. Bucks started at rocket pace and kept it up for the entire game.
The match referee blew up for the start of the first half and Buckland went straight into attack mode.Bucks won a corner and the ball was fired in low to the edge of the Bitton box and hit first time by Cheran Bridger, but sadly for him the ball it the crossbar and right hand post and came back into play.
But we did not have to wait to much longer for the first goal. A long searching ball was played into the space on the left hand side of the pitch. Josh Webber went into overdrive and got to the ball first and hit a low cross into the box to Richard Groves, he got the ball under control and hit a sweet shot into the right hand side of the goal.
Buckland were nearly made to pay for a very loose pass on the halfway line that was intercepted by a Bitton player who then played in David Dunn clean in on goal with only Andy Collings to beat. Andy made himself big close to his left hand post and blocked the shot with his foot. The ball was loose and a shot came in at the other side of the goal but Andy covered the distance and made another fine blocking save.
David Dunn was then played in again with just Andy to beat, but Andy got to him by the left hand post and took the opportunity to shoot at goal away.
The referee who had an up and down game booked Bucks Rob Farkins, I did not see it as a booking myself or a few others that later followed in the game.
Richard Groves who had to receive treatment earlier was taken off and replaced by JJ Evans who had a fine game.Bittons Dean Griffiths found his name going into the referees notebook and had a half chance to get his side back onto level terms when he hooked a shot at goal but the ball flew over the crossbar.
JJ Evens came close to adding to Bucks lead, but his shot ended up being blocked by the left hand post. Cieran Bridger hit a wild shot from 25 yards that went high over the crossbar, Ryan Bush hit a shot from the edge of the box that went wide of the right hand post.
The referee blew up for halftime and Buckland only had the single goal to show for all their hard work and effort.
Luis Edmundson came off the bench for the start of the second half and it did not take Buckland long to extend their lead. Josh Webber battled away in the midfield and played a pass that was then sent to the far post for JJ Evans to fire home.
It was soon three goals to nil when another ball came into the Bitton box from the left hand side and was met by Ryan Bush who picked his spot giving Matt Dunk in goal for Bitton no chance of making a save.
Bucks Cieran Bridger was clearly fouled 25 yards out from the Buckland goal, but nothing was given and shouts to put the ball out were ignored so Ben Carter decided to barge over the player who had the ball. A handbag moment broke out that was soon over but Ben ended up getting a yellow card.
The resulting free kick was taken by Jack Shepherd but he blasted the ball well over the crossbar. Shortly after this he got another shot away from the edge of the Buckland box with the same result. Another rare shooting opportunity came Bittons way, this time for Dean Griffiths from the edge of the box but his effort went wide of the right hand post.
Every time Buckland went forward they looked likely to score, a shot was fired in on goal but got blocked, the ball eventually found its way close to the right hand post where JJ Evans was standing and he fired the ball into the back of the net.
Owen Stockman got his head on the ball and the keeper did well to tip it onto the crossbar, but the ball dropped down close to the penalty spot for Luis Edmundson to blast home.
Buckland were lucky not to give a spot kick away, Frazer Clark clearly pushed Ben Withey over in the box, but the referee bottled in and that clearly upset the Bitton dugout. Ben Withey then had a very good chance hitting a low ball from the edge of the box towards the left hand post. But Andy Collings who had a great game dived down low and made the save.
Cieran Bridger hit an outrageous effort from all of 35 yards that crashed down on the roof of the net, but then hit a sweet low 25 yard effort that flew into the left hand corner of the goal.
So the game ended six goals to nil and Buckland were very worthy winners, with Dan Hart watching the game I am sure he was impressed with what he saw. I would like to thank the club for all the warm welcomes I have received this season and the players for providing so much quality entertainment, roll on next season.
Attendance today was 138
