Post by Dave on Apr 15, 2022 11:29:12 GMT
Match Officials Jordan Lee, Paul Allen, Paul Luscombe
Final Score Buckland Athletic 0 Tavistock AFC 0
Match Preview
I can not think of a better place to watch a game of football on a Good Friday other than Homers Heath. If it was not for my wish to give coverage to players in the South Devon League, the Heath would be my permanent home.
My last game at the Heath was the 4th Round of the FA Vase against Egham town on the 15th January, what a game that saw the mighty Bucks progress to round five of the completion. They were so unlucky to loose away to Newport Pagnell Town in the 5th round and they were also knocked out of the Les Phillips Cup by Saltash by four goals to two.
Report of the Egham game here
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/985/buckland-athletic-egham-town-15th
Following a home defeat against Mousehole AFC on the 19th March a game Bucks lost by five goals to one, Paul Froude the first team manager stepped down from his position. The search for a new manager is on going and Nick Milton Snr will take on the role until the end of this season.
Last Saturday Buckland enjoyed a home win by four goals to one against Street, Tavistock also had their shooting boots on and beat Bitton away by four goals to nil.
Buckland sit in 11th place in the league table on 46 points from 33 games. They have won 13, drawn 7 and lost 13 and have a plus 8 goal difference.
Tavistock proudly sits at the top of the table on 72 points from 32 games. They have won 22, drawn six and lost just four games this season; they have a plus 54 goal difference.
Buckland will need to be at their very best to overcome what will be a very big test for them today. Defend well from the back and take any chances that come their way, all games are winnable.
Match Report
While I always enjoy myself watching a football match on a local park, there always feels a sense of a real occasion when ever I visit Homers Heath. Even without Big Roy it still feels like a very special friendly club that always has a warm welcome for everyone.
We all like to watch games with goals in them, even more so if it’s a 30 yard screamer that flies into the top corner, but even a game with no goals at all can be very entertaining and enjoyable. While Buckland never looked likely to score in any part of the game, they made the team sitting in top spot look a very ordinary side. I have never come home from a game with such few notes in my notebook, but I was proud to call myself a Bucks fan for all the hard work and effort the players put into the game.
Before the kick-off there was a minutes silence to pay our respects to club sponsor and supporter Derek Carnell who recently passed away, another well known member of the Buckland family no longer with us.
The match referee got the game underway and both sides succeeded in cancelling each other and as a result there was very little goal action. But then what turned out to be the chance of the match fell for Tavistock. Dan Koita was played into the Buckland box with just Andy Collings to beat. It was the sort of chance Josh Webber would have put away for sure. All that was need was a shot placed either side of the keeper but at the last second he decided to try and play a team mate in and the chance was gone.
He was played in again but this time did get a shot away but it was straight at Andy Collings who made sure he got a good hand on the ball and pushed it over the crossbar.
Tavistock were slowly getting on top, but the Buckland defence were in a “you won’t get past us mood”. Bucks had a rare chance to threaten the Tavy goal when JJ Evans received the ball outside the left hand side of the box. He fired in the ball to his strike partner but over hit the ball and it sailed over him.
That was all there was to report on the first half, plenty of battles all around the pitch, but just missing the goal action we all like to see.
The second half got underway as the referee came under constant moaning from the Tavy bench and two very loud Tavy supporters who to be honest got on my nerves and a gentleman near me who is a Plymouth Parkway supporter. I was more than happy to see the referee come over and flash a yellow card at the Tavy dugout.
Buckland started the second half much better and went looking for the opening goal, but the front players often lacked support or the killer passes that would have caused problems for the Tavy defence.
From a corner Tavys Warren Daw had a great chance to put his side in front, but his headed effort flew over the crossbar. Tavy once again started to get on top, but once again the Buckland defence stood strong.
Chances were few and far between for both sides, Bucks Cieran Bridger did try his luck from 25 yards out, but the shot flew wide of the right hand post.
The last five minutes of the match were very frantic as Tavy pilled on the pressure on the Bucks defence. Josh Grant hit a powerful shot from the edge of the Bucks box, but a Buckland player threw his body in the way and blocked the ball from going any further.
Balls into the Buckland box were being blocked and kicked away and as a result Buckland earned a well deserved point from the game.
The two mouthy Tavy fans I mentioned felt the need to have a go at a few of the Buckland players, asking if they were proud only playing for a point. I seldom get involved with such things, but I just had to say to them that the Buckland players made the top of the table side look very ordinary and not the world beating team they clearly felt they were. I did not get a reply.
A great day at the Heath and a bumper crowd of 340 enjoyed an afternoon in the sun and a Buckland display to be proud of. Well done all at the club.
