Buckland Athletic v Saltash United FA Vase SAT 16/11/13
I had thought the days leaving a football ground feeling bitter disappointment, frustration and near anger, were all behind me the day I gave up supporting Torquay United. It was only meant to be about watching a good game of football these days between two teams without any emotional attachment so what has gone wrong? Maybe it’s the fact that Homers Heath is a ground I get to often and being an old Buckland boy, I now consider Buckland to be my number one team.
I was guilty today of letting my expectations get the better of me, it’s a mistake so many football fans make, but then surely Buckland were going to beat a team from a lower league, bank the £1200 prize money and then look forward to the draw for the next round.
On a very dull and grey afternoon that never happened and the big question is why that was the case. It has been suggested that this seasons Buckland team is not as strong as last seasons one, some players not up to the standard required for the Western League and I’m beginning to believe that might well be the case.
In saying that Saltash were not three goals better than Buckland, but they did have two front players Sam Hughes and Kelvin Fyneboy who caused Buckland so many problems and both are the sort of players Buckland are missing this season. Kelvin Fyneboy big and strong and such a good target man who the Buckland defence could not handle and who spent most of the afternoon fouling him to try and stop him.
Sam Hughes a player not afraid to take on the last man and run into the box with the ball, so much so that he was brought down twice in the box giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. The three second half goals that Saltash scored were all gifted to them, two spot kicks and the biggest defensive cock up that saw two Buckland defenders both stand and watch a ball bounce into their box and stood still like rabbits frozen in the headlights of a car.
One area of the pitch was heavily sanded and the afternoon light was very low, so much so I had to wack up the film speed on my camera to try and freeze the action. So much so I knew my pictures were going to be a bit grainy. The floodlights had to be put on for the start of the second half, that’s how bad it was. Chris Lanyon came in for the injured Kenny Griffiths in goal and did Ok and was in my opinion let down by his defence in front of him.
The first half was all huff and puff from both sets of players, Saltash always hitting long balls up to Kelvin Fyneboy and neither team creating any good goals scoring opportunities. I can’t remember either keeper having to make a single save in the first half, but Buckland did come the closest to scoring a goal.
Buckland were at least trying to play their passing game, but many passes went astray, out on the left wing, Dan Griffiths was playing well, taking on players and trying to put good balls into the Saltash Box. One neat move between him and Simon Revell resulted in Dan finding himself on the edge of the box with a good shooting opportunity, but his shot flew wide of the right hand post.
Up the other end there were loud shouts for a penalty when Kelvin Fyneboy went down in the Buckland box, but it was a good and fair tackle that took the ball from his feet. The ball was then fired towards the back post where it was headed away and fell to the feet of Saltash player Joe Carey who hurried his shot and as a result missed the target. The referee was not having a very good game and booked Buckland’s Liam drew who clearly played the ball first before his boot caught the leg of a Saltash player.
Buckland then so nearly took the lead, the ball came into the Saltash box and Mike Both managed to get his head on the ball and head it goal ward. My pictures below show the header and the Saltash defender just getting there to head the ball off the line and away to safety.
Buckland came close again after some more excellent play by Dan Griffiths, he took on and beat two players out wide on the left and sent an inch perfect high ball into the Saltash box for Steve Bowker who was unable to keeper his header down and had to watch it sail over the crossbar.
As the half wore on Saltash were starting to get on top and mount some sustained pressure on the Buckland defence, they won a number of corners but were unable to really create very much from them.
Buckland’s Mike Booth then found his name in the referees book after a needless tackle from behind just inside the Buckland half, the ball had long gone and it was sign of the growing frustration in the Buckland players.
The first half ended and I expected to see a much better second half from Buckland, but it never happened, Saltash were the better side in the second half and got their just rewards for it, even if the three goals were gifted to them. Bucks Marc Revell soon found his name also going into the referee’s book after fouling yet again the Saltash target man Kelvin Fyneboy.
Sam Hughes who had a quite first half was stating to become a big threat to the Buckland defence, he came so close to putting his side in the lead when he hit a fine curling shot from just inside the Buckland box that only just went over the crossbar. The warning signs were there and the Buckland defence did not seem to have any answers to it.
Saltash were clearly on top again and Buckland were reduced to hitting long hopeful balls up field. Bucks Dan Griffiths did fire in another good cross out from the left hand side towards the back post that reached Steve Bowker, but from close in he only managed to fire the ball high over the crossbar.
The closest Buckland came to scoring came after some fine work and determined play by Gavin Hammon. He battled to win the ball near the corner flag and ran along the dead ball line and played in a good hard own cross. A Saltash defender in his attempt to clear the ball away so nearly turned it into his own net. Simon Revell then hit a 35 yard shot that was never going to beat the keeper and showed once again the growing frustration in the Buckland players.
Saltash then look the lead after their number nine Sam Hughes burst into the Buckland box and was hacked down by Liam Drew. Ross Saint took the spot kick and placed the ball just inside the left hand post giving Chris Lanyon no chance at all despite him going the right way. Sam Hughes burst into the Buckland box again and was unlucky that one touch on the ball took it just a yard or so in front of him giving Chris Lanyon the chance to dive onto the ball and prevent a certain second goal for Saltash.
Buckland at this stage had not given up and created a few chances of their own. From a corner Mike Both headed just over and Simon Revell fired off a god shot that forced Tom Blackler into making a fine save, but they always looked so vulnerable at the back every time Saltash got anywhere near the Buckland box.
Buckland them gave Saltash their second goal, the Saltash danger man Sam Hughes was outside the Buckland box when a ball bounced into it. Two Buckland defenders were standing there to make what should have been an easy clearance, but both remained rooted to the spot and watched Sam Hughes just run in between them and in on goal with only Chris Lanyon to beat which he did with ease.
The Buckland heads dropped as they knew they were beaten and out of the cup, but they only have themselves to blame I’m afraid. The frustration that had creped into the Buckland players were highlighted with just seconds remaining on the clock.
Sam Hughes burst into the Buckland box once again and Buckland’s captain Danny Gaze just put him arms around Sam Hughes and threw him to the ground. A silly and needless action that just rubbed salt into the Buckland wounds Up stepped number eight again Ross Saint who place his shot once again just inside the left hand post. As soon as the ball hit the back of the net the referee blew up for full time.
The Buckland players all quickly left the field leaving the Saltash players in the middle to celebrate their full deserved victory. A sad day for Buckland and a loss of £1200, they will have to lick their wounds now and put this game behind them and try and sort out some of the problems that are clearly there if they are to progress in the league.
Maybe Adam Castle should try and lure both Sam Hughes and Kelvin Fyneboy to Homers Heath, two players who surely could add what seems to be missing from the Buckland squad. Effort and hard work counts for nothing if you don’t have a front man who can hold up the ball and bring others into play, or one who is not afraid to take on the last man and get into the box.
