SDL Prem Div Dartmouth AFC V Buckland Ath 2nds 21st May 2016

[Dave]

South Devon League Premier Division

THE TITLE DECIDER

Dartmouth AFC Vs Buckland Athletic 2nds

Saturday 21st May 2016 Kick-Off 2.30pm

Venue Longcross

Match Officials: Martin Lewis, Chris Palmer, Sam Rhodes

Final Score Dartmouth AFC 1 Buckland Athletic 2nds 1

Can there ever be a better end to any football season than when the team in first place takes on the team in second place on the last day of the season with the winners being crowned as the division champions.

Last year of the 23rd May I covered such a game featuring Ashburton AFC and Foxhole United for the division two title, it was a very exciting game played in sunshine. Foxhole ran out the winners in the end by four goals to three and sadly as we know folded midway through this season.

I spoke with George a few weeks ago and learnt the real story behind Foxholes ending, sad but it was nice to know the final picture on the report I did for that game against Ashburton, sits proudly framed on George’s mantelpiece.

Report on that game here.

davesworld.proboards.com/thread/489/div2-ashburton-foxhole-united-23rd


One year on and what a difference in the weather, wet windy and horrible, but that was never going to dampen the mood the winners of this game would be in come the final whistle.

On paper there was very little to separate both teams, only the fact that Buckland were sitting right at the very top of the table and two points better off than Dartmouth. This meant a draw would have been enough to see them crowned as the champions of the Premier Division of the South Devon Football league.

The records to date

Dartmouth had played twenty three games winning eighteen, drawing four and losing one. They had scored seventy five goals, conceded fifteen, giving them a total of fifty eight points with a plus sixty goal difference.

Buckland Athletic 2nds had played twenty three games, winning nineteen, drawing three and losing one. They had scored eighty two goals, conceded twenty giving them a total of sixty points with a plus sixty two goal difference.

Buckland’s only defeat of the season was way back on the twenty four of October away to Watcombe Wanders. Dartmouth dropped their three point in their away game on the fifth of December against Brixham AFC 2nds. Dartmouth won the game but later learned due to a mistake on their part namely playing a player who they should not have( they did not play said player the week before and mistakenly thought he was ok to play against Brixham)resulting in Brixham being awarded a home walkover.

In their last game Buckland thrashed Waldon Athletic away by nine goals to two, Dartmouth just managed to beat Watcombe Wanders away by a single goal. Both sides have enjoyed a number of big wins this season and while Buckland has scored more league goals than Dartmouth, the Dartmouth defence has conceded fewer goals.

Sadly for both teams all that was on offer was the glory of becoming the league champions. Dartmouth’s ground failed its grading test meaning promotion was not an option and Buckland could not move up the football ladder either as their first team failed in their bid to move up to the Southern League.

I got home from today’s match and discovered I had lost my notepad, therefore my report will not be as detailed as is normally the case. I will give my honest thoughts on the game as a whole and add what I can remember. The rain never gave up all afternoon and I was very thankful of the stand at Longcross, it was the sort of rain you get very wet in.

Dartmouth decided to charge a £2 entrance fee for this match, some may feel that as it was a SDL fixtures that should not have happened. I took the view that being able to watch such an important game it was well worth paying such a small amount.I would guess there were around sixty people watching the game, not a bod turnout on such a wet afternoon.

I learned when I first arrived at Longcross the fact that the league trophy was not at the ground as all the SDL officials were on a jolly up at Wembley, very poor indeed that the league could not send just one person to the game. When you win anything its nice to lift up the trophy just after winning it, not some time later in the future when the league gets its act back into gear.

Buckland came looking for the draw and their early play sure proved that, Dartmouth were much the better side during the first half and could have gone in at halftime in the lead. Dartmouth’s passing was better and they looked the most likely side to score.

Their main danger name Daniel Rankin took one great shot out wide on the right that Jamie Bradley in goal for Buckland, did well punching the ball over the crossbar. Daniel Rankin was in again and forced a good save out of Jamie Bradley who blocked the shot with his body. Daniel was in for a third time on the right again but much closer in, this time his shot hit the side netting.

Buckland were doing what they needed to be doing, defending well and trying not to give any silly goals away and it was job done so far when the referee blew up for halftime.

The second half got underway and Buckland were defending very deeply but very well and as a result prevented Dartmouth having any clear goal scoring opportunities, but pushing up so high themselves, Dartmouth paid the price. .

The ball was in the Buckland box and in a flash on the halfway line at the feet of Buckland’s Jamie Mickelwright with Gavin Collins close by to him. There was only one Dartmouth defender between them and the goal, but Jamie Mickelwright looked to have taken to much time on the ball as the Dartmouth players raced to get back into their own half. But when it looked as if the advantage had gone, he played the ball to Gavin Collins who advanced down the left hand side of the pitch and finally slid the ball past the advancing keeper Ryan Walton in the back of the net.

Dartmouth went up a gear and it was wave after wave of attack with no end result, shots wide of the post, some blasted over the crossbar but then their luck changed. The ball was there to be cleared out of the Buckland box, but the defender ended up gifting the ball to Daniel Rankin who hit it powerfully first time with his left foot in off the far right and post and into the back of the net.

Buckland went down to ten men, their young second half substitute number 14 had already picked up one yellow card and then foolishly committed another bad foul on a Dartmouth player.

The Buckland defence were even more under the cosh as Dartmouth looked for that second goal and there was a very big shout for a penalty. The ball came into the edge of the Buckland box from the right hand side, Karl Baker rose well and got a good head on the ball, from my angle it did seem to be blocked by a Buckland hand or arm, but nothing was given.

Try as hard as they might that second goal never came for Dartmouth and the noise coming from the Buckland dressing room after the game was deafening. Shouts of champions must have been heard all the way over in Torquay.

Buckland are the league champions and as a Buckland boy I’m very happy for them. But one must feel sorry for Dartmouth who were not beaten once this season in the league and only lost out today because of that mistake back in December. It that had not have happened then today’s draw would have seen them crowned as the champions,

There were other bookings in this match and a few more details I have not included due to losing that notebook. Thanks for all the help today from both clubs and the match referee. What the hell am I going to do next Saturday?

Enjoy the break everyone and see you all again next season.

Dave R