Final Score Buckland 4 Mangotsfield 2What a game of football and what an amazing second half performance from Buckland. Before I get to the match report just a few things to say. Firstly your match reporter has come home from Homers Heath with the biggest swollen top lip possible. No I was not hit by some rival fan, but stung on the lip by a nasty little wasp, the whole ground was full of the little buggers. I just went to take a sip from my can of coke and he had me.
Secondly a big well done to Bucks groundsman who has done a wonderful job getting the pitch looking so much better than it did two weeks ago. The over nights rain we have had, plus nice sunny days has made his job that much easier. A quick thank you to Amy for the team info and also Roy the chairman for lending me loads and loads of local programmes.
The game was meant to start at 2pm, but half the Mangotsfield team had not turned up by then, so we had to wait until around 2.30 pm before the match started. For the first ten minutes or so it looked like the Mangotsfield team were still on the team bus as they say, they were simply not very good. If anyone thought Anthony Lynch had a big mouth on him, trust me compared to the Mangotsfield manager he is a little angel. That man should learn how to keep his voice down and cut out the foul crap that comes out of his mouth. He was asked by one Bucks fan to tone it down due to the children near by, but instead we wanted to start a big row with said fan.
Buckland did not start too badly and Danny Gaze made a good run and played a good square ball to Dan Griffiths who was on the edge of the box, but he hit a poor shot that went harmlessly behind for a goal kick. Sadly the Bucks defence were not switched on that early in the game and in a flash Buckland found themselves two goals behind.
There were two Bucks defenders near the ball and all that was needed was one of them to put their foot through the ball and clear it up field. But that never happened and Kayle Tooze stole the ball from them and after taking a few strides, hit a powerful low shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.
Not to sure where the Buckland defence was for the second goal, the ball was swung into the Bucks box from the right hand side and went to Ryan Bath who was completely unmarked. He had time to control the ball and pick his spot, giving Kenny Griffiths no chance at all in the Buckland goal.
At this point I feared for Buckland, but then I do know they never give up and the game was still very young, but another goal for Mangotsfield, would have given them a big mountain to climb. But Bucks got a goal back after winning a free kick on the left hand side some 25 yards from goal. Danny Gaze send in a great ball into the mix and up jumped Mike Booth to head the ball home. That was it for the first half and all I can say is this new manager must be very good at halftime team talks.
Buckland came out flying in the second half and completely dominated it from the first whistle to the very last one. I do not like picking a man of the match as to be fair all the Buckland players played so well in the second half, but one did stand out for me and that man was Gavin Hammon, what a great player he is.
He does what all good strikers do and that is never give up, never worry when a chance was not taken or the ball did not hit the back of the net. He had two great efforts on the trot; the first one he burst into the box on the left hand side and from a tight angle forced a good save out of the Mangotsfield keeper. The second one the ball had been played into the box from the right hand side, got half cleared the edge of the box and Gavin hit a fine dipping volley that only just went over the crossbar.
Gavin turned provider and played a neat ball into the feet of Ben Carter who hit the ball first time but sadly for him it hit a defender that resulted in all the pace being taken off the ball. Dan Griffiths send in a good cross and up rose that man Gavin Hammon who headed the ball well only to see it just go over the bar.
Gavin was to get his rewards for all his effort and much credit has to go to Bucks Marc Revell, he won the ball well and went on a mini run looking up and sending in a fine ball from the right over the top of the Mangotsfield defence. Gavin stole past the last man and from a tight angle fired the ball across the goal into the left hand side of it.
We did not have to wait to long for goal number three, Mike Booth had his shot blocked in the box by what looked like a hand. Up went the shouts for handball but the ref never blew up and the ball fell kindly to Jamie Micklewright to fire home.
Goal number four for Buckland was a top drawer finish and yes it was that man Gavin Hammon who scored it. The ball was played into the box from the right hand side and he took a touch to set the shot up and fired in coolly past the Mangotsfield keeper with pace accuracy into the top right hand corner of the goal.
On today performance Buckland will do well this season and its clear the see the new players are starting to fit in well and play their part in the team. Well done Buckland, now where is that sting cream to put on by bloody fat lips.
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