Post by Dave on Dec 26, 2014 19:32:55 GMT
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Willand Rovers V Buckland Athletic
Friday 26th December 2014 Kick-Off 1.30pm
Referee S. Annis Assistants T.Burley & A Price
Final Score Willand Rovers 4 Buckland Athletic 3
On a very wet and cold Boxing Day, Buckland came so close to putting an end to their recent losing streak, but failed due to not being able to hold on to a lead not once, twice but three times. Buckland were missing a few players today and played very well in parts of the match, but Willand on the balance of play, were just slightly the better team on the day.
£6.50p to get into Willands ground today, was that because it was Boxing Day? Or is that the normal price? Either way it shows that the cost to get into Homers Heath is very reasonable. You do get a programme thrown in mind you, but it looks like they may use the same programme all season and just add some lose pages in the middle for each match played.
Considering the poor weather there was a good size crowd for the match and I was grateful of the covered standing area outside the main club house. The pitch looked heavy and did cut up as the game went on, but then the rain fell for most of it.
The starting line-up for Buckland was;
Neil Montandon, Matt Beer, Danny Gaze, Nick Rudge, Si Laughton, Liam Head, Shane Gill, Mike Booth, Gavin Hammon, Jared Lewington and Si Revell.
And the substitutes were;
Jordan Havlin, Dan Griffiths, Ellis Laight and Kieran Parkin.
The first half kicked off with neither team being able to get on top or create and meaningful goal scoring opportunities. Plenty of good strong challenges but not that much quality early on, but that was all to change the longer the game went on.
Buckland took the lead, there was a push in the back on Mike Booth and the referee pointed to the spot. It looked a very soft penalty decision and not one most refs would have given. Si Revell stepped up to take the kick and fired the ball into the bottom left hand corner past Kurtis Parkin in goal for Willand.
Straight from the restart Willand got the ball into the Buckland box and forced the Buckland keeper Neil Montandon into making a fine save, tipping the ball over his crossbar. But Willand did not have to wait too long after that to get back onto level terms.
Once again the referee S Annis gave another very soft decision, this time to Willand just outside the Buckland box. Player/manager, Scott Rogers took the free kick and fired it into the back of the net past Neil Montandon
But Buckland managed to get the lead back in the 43 minute, a great curling cross was played into the Willand box for Mike Booth to tap home from close range. That was it for the first half and the big question was could Buckland add to their first half lead, or get pegged back again.
Willand came out flying at the start of the second half and completely dominated the play, it was no real surprise when they equalised once more just six minutes into the half. It was a fine solo effort from Lee Smythe, who carried the ball through the centre of the field and when just inside the Buckland box, hit a powerful shot into the back of the net just inside the left hand post.
Buckland were at this stage just trying to get the odd breakaway attack going and it looked very much like a draw might be on the cards as long as Buckland could hold on and not concede another goal. But things changed for Buckland when substitute Jordan Havlin came on. He was full of running down the right wing and got Buckland back in front in the 81st minute. He cut inside on his favoured left foot and hit a wonder shot that just flew into the top corner.
Surly that was it? A win for Buckland at last? Well it was not to be as once again they failed to hold onto the lead and just six minutes later the score was three all. It was another substitute that scored and a former Buckland player Luke Durham. A Scott Rogers cross came into the Buckland box and Luke controlled the ball well before poking it into the empty net.
The Willand crowd had given up before this goal had gone in and were convinced Buckland had won the match, now they were asking for four and they got what they asked for. It was Willands player/manager who was to have the final say In the final minute of normal time.
Scott Rogers had a great ball played to him from the left hand side and he seemed to have all the time in the world to get the ball under control and shoot from the edge of the Buckland area. He had to shoot through a pack of players between him and Neil Montandon in the Buckland goal. He should have been closed down but he wasn’t and I expect Neil Montandon was unsighted as he remained rooted to the spot as the ball hit the back of the net.
Both sets of players worked their socks off and for the Buckland players it was a case of what nearly was. They will get back to winning ways soon, they are a good outfit with a number of good players, something I heard said many times during the afternoon by a number of the Willand fans.
I really enjoyed my afternoon and wish both teams all the best for the rest of the season.
