Post by Dave on Jan 1, 2022 10:55:05 GMT
Match Officials, Lee Roberts, Benjamin Goldsworthy, Paul Allen
Final Score Buckland Athletic 2 Helston Athletic 1
Match preview
At the end of the day on the 30th October 2021 Buckland Athletic was in third place in the league table on twenty eight points. They had played a total of fifteen games, winning eight of them drawing four and losing three with a plus nineteen goal difference.
But since that date they have played a further six league fixtures but have only managed the single win, the remaining games ended in one draw and four defeats. The end result of the last two months has seen Buckland drop down to eleventh place in the league table on thirty two points with their goal difference being reduced to plus twelve.
It should be noted that Buckland have faired much better in two cup completions, they beat Falmouth Town FC in the FA Vase 2nd Round Proper, Wellington AFC in the 3rd round proper which has set up a tasty looking 4th round match at home to Egham Town who play n the Combined Counties Premier Division North, which is the same level as Buckland play at on Saturday the fifteenth of January.
They also knocked out Exmouth Town in the Devon St Lukes Bowl to set up a quarter final tie against Brixham AFC at home on Tuesday the eighteen of January with a 19.30 kick off time.
It is clear since wining the October team of the month award Buckland have allowed their league form to drop and that is something the manager will be trying his hardest to put right. A good win over a team sitting six places higher in the league would be a good springboard for the second half of the season. There is only five points separating the two teams and Buckland will be looking to bounce right back from their Boxing Day three goals to nil defeat away to Tavistock AFC.
Helston Athletic have played nineteen league games to date, which is two less than Buckland, they have won ten, drawn seven and lost just two games. They sit in fifth place in the league table on thirty seven points with a plus nineteen goal difference.
If Stuart Bowker starts for Helston, the Buckland defence will need to be strong at the back, Stuart is a strong forceful player who knows how to bully his way past defenders and most certainly knows where the back of the net is.
I am sure many neutrals might put this game down as an away win, but Buckland are better than their recent league results and if they play to their strengths they are more than capable of recording their first win in 2022.
COYY
Match Report
A game more suited to Boxing Day than New Years Day, explosive, exciting and always on the edge. Buckland were superb today, were not prepared to surrender a single blade of grass and no ball was ever a lost cause. They kept all of Helston’s danger men very quite and were on top for the whole game.
The two teams took to the pitch separately which I can only think was down to the recent high numbers of covid cases. Match referee Lee Roberts got the game underway and Buckland went straight onto attack mode.
The first meaningful attempt on goal came about when Josh Webber was played into the right hand side of the Helston box. He hit a good clean low shot that Cory Harvey in goal for Helston did well to save with his feet and the near post.
Buckland were well on top, winning all their tackles and preventing any balls getting to the Helston front players. Bucks Charlie Johansson had a great opportunity to put his side in front when he was played into the Helston box. The space opened up for a shot, but he decided to make another turn and the ball was robbed off him.
Against the run of play Helston maybe should have got the opening goal. A free kick was headed on into the Buckland box and Josh Storey missed an absolute sitter, it looked easier to score.
Stuart Bowker was finding it hard to get any service, but he was played into the right hand side of the Buckland box, but his shot was wild and flew well over the crossbar.
Buckland broke from the edge of their own box, a few slick passes later and Cieran Bridger was played into the Helston box, he hit a sweet right foot shot that was well saved by Cory Harvey.
The first player to have hiss name taken by the match referee was Helston’s Ryan Beattie after hacking down Josh Webber, it was the first of a number of yellow cards that followed.
Then came one of those moments you do not like to see in a game, Cieran Bridger was on the end of a nasty foul committed by Helston’s Matty Bye wearing the captains armband. As he got up he was pushed by a Buckland player and all hell broke lose. When it all settled down Lee Roberts showed the red card to Matty Bye. Now the foul was never a red card offence, so I can only imagine he did something in the scuffle that broke out. Two Buckland players were also shown the yellow card.
The referee blew up for halftime and the Helston manager came over to the officials and voiced his opinion on the sending off. I was soon in stitches as I was standing next to Tony Bowker who said “I can’t understand why managers feel the need to argue with the referee” and that got Tony laughing away as well.
The second half got underway and I felt it was only a matter of time before Buckland finally got the goal they deserved. Luis Edmondson broke into the right hand side of the Helston box, but fired his shot over the crossbar. Charlie Johansen hit a great low shot from the edge of the Helston box that Cory Harvey did well to tip around the right hand post.
Without a goal to show for their efforts there was always the fear Helston could mount the odd attack and score. They came close when Stuart Bowker was played into the Buckland box, Andy Collings the Bucks keeper did well to palm the shot down. Substitute Ryan Turner was also played into the Buckland box, but he hit his shot over the crossbar.
Buckland finally took the lead in the match, the ball came back out of the Helston box and Josh Webber turned so neatly and hit a powerful low shot just inside the right hand post, what a great strike from such a great player.
It was soon two nil to the mighty Bucks and it was my man of the match again, the ball came to him rather kindly, but we raced inside the Helston box and hit another unstoppable shot.
The game was now as good as won, there was no way back for the Heston players, but they did get a rather strange goal back. Luke Tripconey hit a rather tame looking shot that looked to be going wide of the left hand post. Andy Collings must have thought so as well as he did not move an inch from were he was standing. Everyone standing on the club house side of the ground thought the ball had gone wide and behind for a goal kick. But the referee pointed to the centre circle.
Lee Roberts blew up for the end of the match, a good crowd of 351 witnessed a great display by the Buckland players, what a game, what a great side Buckland are to watch when they are playing at their best. I am going to find it very hard to stay away from the Heath.
Heston Athletic video all of their games, here is their video of today's match