Post by Dave on Dec 4, 2021 12:05:03 GMT
Match officials Neil Hunnisett Shane Barker Shaun Mann
Final Score Buckland Athletic 1 Ilfracombe Town 3
Match Preview
The draw of the Heath was just too strong today for me to overcome. If it was not for the fact I love to try and cover games for clubs that might not otherwise have a match report and team photos of one of their games, I would be at the Heath for every home fixture.
As a former Buckland boy I feel so very proud of this club and all that it has achieved since its humble beginnings. I do miss the times I was able to spend with Big Roy, but as I have previously stated, you know he is always looking down on us all on match days.
It was twenty one days ago that Buckland last played Ilfracombe Town away at the Marlborough Park ground. Buckland were not at their best on the day and lost by two goals to nil. Nothing should be taken away from the Ilfracombe performance; they are enjoying a very good season so far and sit in 5th in the league table one point above Buckland.
Paul Froude and the team will see today’s game as a good early opportunity to make amends for that defeat. Since then Buckland beat Falmouth Town by three goals to one on the 20th November in a FA Vase match at the Heath. Last Saturday Buckland ran out winners by two one winners at home against Cadbury Heath. Before that game, Captain Richard Groves was presented with the Western League "Team of the Month" for October 2021 by Martin Painter, a representative of the League.
During the month of October Buckland secured 7 out of a possible 9 league points and an FA Vase win. 2 clean sheets were kept during the month and only 3 goals conceded in total.
Ilfracombe Towns last game was at home against Clevedon Town which ended in a one all draw. Before today’s match Buckland were in 6th place in the league table on thirty one points after playing a total so far of eighteen games. They won nine of them, drawn four and lost five giving them a plus seventeen goal difference.
Ilfracombe Town has played seventeen games one less than Buckland and sit in 5th place in the league table on thirty two points. They have won ten of their matches to date, drawn two and have also lost five games giving them as plus ten goal difference.
Match Report
I knew straight away I was watching a Western League match, the skill level, passing and movement and pace along with the fitness levels was there for all to see. But all that counts for nothing if you do not put away your chances and the best player on the pitch just happens to play for the opposition. It was a hard lesson the Buckland players learnt today.
The pitch was very heavy and the conditions were not very good with rain showers and the light fading by the second and yet this was a game Buckland could and probably should have won.
The match referee blew for the start of the match and for the first ten minutes it was all pretty even. But then that best player on the pitch Ilfracombes Liam Short playing out on the left wing, burst down the left hand side, cut into the Buckland box and fired a low powerful shot across the keeper into to the far corner of the net.
A big set back for the Buckland lads so early in the game but they battled hard and soon got back onto level terms. Two defenders went for the same high ball in their box with the ball coming off the back of one of their heads. It dropped behind them to the feet of Levvi Landricombe who hit it first time into the back of the net.
Buckland won a free kick on the edge of the Town box; Owen Stockton took the kick and forced a full length diving save by the keeper Steve Oliver. He pushed the ball onto the post and it them dropped to Buckland’s Mani Skett close in who somehow managed to hit his shot well over the crossbar.
Buckland were battling well and having the lion’s share of the play. From a free kick on the halfway line Levi Landricombe was played into the box on a one on one with the Town keeper, but he dragged his shot wide of the left hand post.
While Buckland looked in control Ilfracombe always looked very dangerous every time they did mount an attack. But on the number of chances being created in the match, Buckland should have been winning by fours goals to one by now. Frazer Clark had a good chance from edge of the Town box, but had to stand and watch the ball fly past the right hand post.
Nani Skett fired in a good high ball into the Town box which was met at the far post by Levi Landricombe, but he headed wide of the left hand post.
Buckland were then made to pay for all those missed chances, danger man Liam Short fired in a high ball to the back post from the left hand side. A Town forward tried to head the ball home but came off the back of his head and the loose ball was fired home by Joe Barker ( sure it was him will correct if wrong)
Bucks Ceiran Bridger hit a wonder shot from the edge of the Town box that crashed against the crossbar; it certainly was not Buckland’s day. With the players close to playing in darkness the match referee blew up for halftime and I felt a good team talk was very much the order of the day.
The floodlights were put on for the second half; my photographic skills were very much put to the test as the rain came down. Buckland came out of the traps like greyhounds as they went in search for what would have been a well deserved equaliser. Richard Groves hit a good shot from the edge of the Town box that was well saved low down.
Buckland were well on top of the game now, but I felt they were a bit guilty of rushing things a bit too much. They nearly went a further goal behind from a Town corner, but they got away with it.
Nani Skett hit a sweet shot just inside the town box that hit the left hand post. Town were only getting the odd break away as Buckland piled on the pressure, but Liam Short on one of those hit a screamer from twenty yards that Andy Collings in the Buckland goal did well to tip over.
A very neat passing move by Buckland ended with a shot over the Town crossbar from the edge of the box by Nami Skett. Surly the equaliser was not far away? Levi Landricombe was played into the box, but the keeper did well to come out and dive on the ball at Levi’s feet.
Completely against the run of play, Town got their third goal of the match, a ball into the box from the right hand side found Jack Langford completely unmarked to fire home.
With the rain now coming down even heavier Buckland went into overdrive, Charlie Johansen headed the ball close in on goal but his effort was tipped over the crossbar by Steve Oliver. The match referee raced over to the Buckland dugout after being called by the linesman, he reached for a card and sent someone to the stand.
Buckland ended up taking far too many shots from too far out that were easier saved by the keeper. Time was running out and there was no way back for Buckland now.
The referee blew up for the end of the match and I am still not sure why Buckland lost this game. They do not look as strong at the back as they used to, maybe that is a part of the problem. On another day more of the efforts they had on goal go in, maybe it was just not Buckland’s day today.
A very enjoyable game to watch despite the final score, many thanks to Amy for providing me with a team sheet.
