SDL Prem Div Buckland Ath V Watcombe Wanderers 18th Feb 2017

[Dave]

South Devon League Premier Division

Buckland Athletic 2nd V Watcombe Wanderers

Saturday 18th February 2017 Kick-Off 2.30pm

Venue Homers Heath

Match Referee Andy Distin

Final Score Buckland Athletic 2nd 7 Watcombe Wanderers 2

Match Preview

It is no real surprise to see last seasons league champions Buckland Athletic 2nds at the top of the table this season and it is looking very likely they will finish as the champions again this season. The whole club has been built on success and the progress it has made over the years has been staggering. That has been down to the excellent people who have put so much hard work into making the whole club one Newton Abbot should be very proud of.

Watcombe Wanderers are also a very well run club that has enjoyed much success in recent seasons, but as a club they have always been held back due to their home pitch being at the King George Playing Fields. But this season they have moved to the edge of Newton Abbot and have taken over the ground next to the old Centrax pitches where Buckland and Milber played before folding.

Much work has already been done at their new ground and one day they hope the move to the ground they have named “The Manor” will enable them to move up from the South Devon League into the Carlsberg Peninsula League and that would be great as it would be wonderful to see a team from the South Devon League make the move upwards.

Buckland to date have played seventeen league games winning sixteen of them and losing just one single game to Ashburton by three goals to nil. . That defeat happened at the Heath and was a shock result as Buckland had thumped Ashburton at their place earlier in the season by eight goals to nil. But Ashburton back then were the new boys in this division and have since found some good form that has seen them rise to second place in the table.

By Watcombe standards it has not been the best of starts for them this season, before today’s game they were fifth in the league table having played sixteen games, winning eight of them, drawing one and losing seven. There home game against Buckland Athletic 2nds back in September was a close affair with Buckland just running out the winners in the end with the final score of Watcombe two Buckland three.

Watcombe went to the Heath hoping the Buckland 2nds players might have their minds of their first team’s big game tomorrow in the FA Vase Quarter Final away to Bromsgrove Sporting. A game I really wanted to watch but due to having to be in Falmouth by 7.30am on Monday morning decided against it.

Match Report


Buckland Athletic 2nds showed their class today and just why they are top of the South Devon League Premier Division. Right from the off they were soon on top and their neat passing and movement was a joy to watch. Shane Gill controlled the midfield and played such a big part in not only breaking up any Watcombe moves, but fed his front players with telling passes.

It was not a case of if Buckland would score but when, as it turned out Watcombe gifted them the opening goal when there was no danger at all. Watcombes Johnathon Carter was outside his own box towards the wing and over hit a back pass to his keeper Cameron Hunter who ended up becoming miss footed and had to watch the ball roll over the goal line into the back of the net.

Buckland came close to adding to their early lead from a corner from the left hand side, Cameron Kelly rose well at the back post but his header hit the right hand post and came back into play. But they did not have to wait too much longer for goal number two, Matt Beer showed good feet in the box when he received a great ball played in low into the box from the left wing by George Fice.

Bucks Jordan Ewing hit a powerful long range effort that only just cleared the crossbar in what was becoming one way traffic towards the Watcombe box. Watcombe did win a free kick just outside the Buckland area, but the ball ended up being blasted over the crossbar.

Watcombe started to get a bit more into the game through hard work and determination and came so close to getting a goal back. The first effort was headed off the line and the follow up shot was also cleared off the line.

Up the other end and Cameron Kelly headed just over the crossbar and just seconds later Watcombe got the goal back they deserved. A great run into the Buckland box and a good finish by Cieran Bridger and I felt this goal might just see Watcombe soon getting back onto level terms.

The game restarted and just twenty seconds later it was three one to Buckland, Watcombe were still celebrating their goal when once again George Fice put in a great ball from the left hand side for Jordan Ewing to volley home. The match referee Andy Distin who was having a fine game then blew up for the end of the first half.

The second half got under way and Buckland quickly added to their first half lead, a good ball over the top of the Watcombe defence played in Jordan Ewing who with just the keeper to beat made no mistake as he picked his spot to fire the ball home.

Watcombe to their credit kept working hard trying to get back into the game, but it was always Buckland who looked the most likely to score more goals. Jordan Ewing was played into the box again with just the keeper to beat and should have scored, but he hit the ball just a bit to far in front of him giving the Watcombe keeper Cameron Hunter the chance to come out and dive on the ball at the feet of Jordan.

It was soon five one to Buckland when they out done Watcombe as they raided down the right wing followed by a great ball played to towards the back post for Shame Gill to fire home. Six one to the Bucks from a corner that was headed home by Cameron Kelly a score line that did not flatter Buckland and was a true refection on the quality of their play.

Watcombe did score a second goal when after a constrained attack on the Buckland goal ended up with Liam Northcott bundling the ball over the goal line. They came close to getting a third goal when Liam Northcott took a shot just inside the Buckland box, but his effort went over the crossbar.

Buckland brought on sixteen year old James Colclough who must have been over the moon to score on his debut with a super cool finish when he was played into the Watcombe box.

A very enjoyable game to watch and one that match referee Andy Distin did not feel the need to bring out a single card as both teams played the game we all want to see it played.

Now it’s the first teams turn to go and get the result on Sunday and I wish them all the best and hope they come home safe in the knowledge they are through to the semi final of the cup, its no more than this great club deserves.