Buckland Athletic 2nd V Ipplepen 20th Nov 2010

[Dave]

South Devon League Premier Division League Match

Buckland Athletic 2nd V Ipplepen 20th Nov 2010

As Carol’s grand daughter was taking part in today’s Torquay Christmas Carnival, it was a perfect opportunity for her very close family to take her out and spend some time with her. With Ant not having a game himself, we went together to Homers Heath to watch what was a really cracking game and one that you would struggle to see better up at Plainmoor.

I was so impressed not only with the quality players on show, but the very high standard of football played. While the game was played in a very good sprit, the tackles were hard and fully committed. The ref seemed content to let most things go with just a telling off, but got a bit card happy near the end of the game, shame really as apart from one very strange challenged by the Ipplepen keeper near the corner flag, that the ref did not even have a word with the keeper about, there were no real dirty challenges in the game.

Disappointed with my photos today, I had the camera set up today the same as I have had for the matches I have done before, but the light was so very low and the second half was played in very poor light indeed and I think I’ll have to try other settings when the light is as low as it was. The floodlights really should have been turned on for the second half and I was told it would have cost £10 to have them on, if that is correct then for the safety of the players alone, the switch should have been flicked.

All the players warm up for the match on the practice pitch that sits up high behind the stand in the ground, I was told this is the same for all the Buckland teams including their first team, to help save to much wear and tear on the match pitch.

As a neutral I would have been more than happy to see this game end in a draw, it was one of those games where both teams did not deserve to end up as the losers. Both teams gave as good as they got and while they both had good spells during the match, no team was ever really on top.

I thought Ipplepen had the best of the opening exchanges and were the most likely to take the lead, they would have done so if Pens number 11? Who was clean through on goal with the just the keeper to beat, had not hit the ball so tamely.

It was from a breakaway following another Ipplepen attack, that Buckland got the first goal of the match. One second the ball was around the Buckland box and the next it was at the feet of Buckland’s right winger deep in the Ipplepen half. He played a great ball across the pens box where Chris Mitchell (number 11) was waiting too slide in very close to the Pen keeper and get the ball over the line.

Buckland then went two goals up, the Ipplepen keeper had come out of his box and heading for the corner flag where a Buckland player had possession of the ball, the Pen keeper jumped into the challenged with both feet off the floor and I have seen players send off for that before.

Not sure if the ref gave a free kick or just a corner, but when the ball finally came into the box Ipplepens Stewart Sparks put the ball into his own net, with Buckland’s number six, trying to claim the goal.

Ipplepen kept working hard and their number nine Chris Zrdinko so nearly got through on a goal a number of times after some good jinking runs. He did however manage to get a goal back for Ipplepen after the ball was only cleared to just out side the Buckland box. The ball came in from a corner and I think the Buckland keeper was the player who cleared the ball. As the ball came just outside the box, Chris Zrdinko hit a low and powerful shot along the ground into the left hand corner of the goal.

That was about it for the first half and I was expecting Ipplepen to get the score level after the break, but the fell behind very early to another goal. With the ball at his feet Jamie Clifford chipped the Ipplepen keeper brilliantly from just outside the box and it was a goal any top professional would have been proud of.

The game became all action and end to end with both teams having a number of chances to score more goals, but Ipplepen once again looked the most likely team to get the next goal. That proved to be the case and it was Chris Zrdinko standing at the back post to drive the ball over the line.

While Buckland went looking for a forth goal, their attacks so often broke down as they got near goal and their right winger had a number of good chances to get the ball into the box, but failed most times.

At the other end saw the save of the day from the Buckland keeper, who dived full length to his left to keep out a very powerful shot. Ipplepen wasted a number of good chances near the end of the match to stop Buckland taking all three points and so in near darkness the ref brought the game to an end with the Buckland players enjoying a big team hug in the centre of the pitch to celebrate their victory.

It was great to have a chat with Buckland’s groundsman (tufc01’s brother) and TFF member Bucklandgull. Ant and I spent some time after the match in the club house and what a smashing club Buckland is and one all the football lovers in Newton Abbot should get fully behind