As I drove home from this game I had time to think how I should write my match report, by the time I got home I decided to just be 100% honest and tell it how it really was. I had planned to go and watch Galmpton play today, that was until Bucklandgull put up on the forum that Buckland were at home. Mind you at 12.30 pm it was a bit damp in the Bay and I had second thoughts about going out at all. I’m glad I changed my mind as it was nice and dry at Homers Heath, just very overcast ( not good for getting good photos) and thankfully not too cold.
Amy bless her filled out the team names on my programme and I went and bought one of those nice pasties and a can of coke for the grand sum of £1.70 from tufc01 mum. Sure beat that stale old pie I bought at Plainmoor for £3 on New Year’s Day.
Buckland has not been able to play a game for six weeks now and due to FA Cup games etc, have found they had not played many league matches so far this season. MY first thoughts before the kick-off were would the Bucks players be a bit rusty and need some time to get into the game. That proved to be the case for the first ten minutes, as Bucks made a number of sloppy passes and Radstock looked a good side with a number of very quick and skilful players.
But it did not take long for the Buckland players to find their game and start spraying the ball around neatly and start creating a number of chances to take the lead. Bucks first attempt was a smart shot by James Mudge from the edge of the area and Chris Wright in goal for Radstock, just managed to beat the ball out with his hands. Just after than Chris Wright for Bucks had a great ball played to him out wide on the left and he got his head down and ran towards the Radstock goal, when he got level with the area he fired in a shot that the keeper did well to tip over his crossbar.
Buckland then took the lead; Mike Booth found the ball at his feet on the edge of the area with just the keeper to beat. He took the ball in closer to the goal and it first looked like he had placed the ball wide of the right hand post. But I’m sure he will tell everyone it was not a shot but a pass to James Mudge who had ran in towards the back post to tap the ball into the net.
It was very soon two nil to Buckland, but it took them three attempts to get the ball into the back of the net, the first two shots were blocked and the ball then fell kindly to Mike Booth who hit a sweet shot from around the penalty spot passed the stranded Radstock keeper.
The one thing I love about the Buckland team is they do not sit back when they are in a winning position; they just keep working hard, closing down players and getting those tackles in and look to add to their lead. But then with Mr Lynch shouting out the instructions loud and clear from the dugout, maybe that’s the best policy lol.
Buckland then went and got a third goal, the ball was swung in from a corner taken on the left hand side, the Radstock keeper went up but failed to get the ball, hit the deck and while he was still lying there, up popped Chris Wright to fire the lose ball into the net. So a very pleasing first half for Buckland and the only question now was would it be a game of two half’s as they say.
Radstock started the second half like a team that had a right rollicking in the dressing room, they did their best to pin Buckland back in their own half and I felt it was only a matter of time before they got a goal back. One of the Radstock forwards had a made a good run to just outside the area, but he was brought down and the Bucks player rightly received a yellow card for the cynical foul. Radstocks Leon Grange stepped up to take the free kick and forced a good save out of Kenny Griffiths in goal for Buckland. But right after that a chance fell to Isaac Reid and he made no mistake giving the Bucks keeper no chance at all.
I was half expecting to see a Radstock comeback, but then they were playing Buckland and that goal seemed to hurt the Buckland players and it was not long before they started mounting attack after attack on the Radstock goal. Chris Wright hit a very sweet dipping volley that only just went over the crossbar and now it just seemed a matter of time before Buckland scored again.
Mind you they got a bit lucky as their keeper rushed out from his box to try and clear a long through ball that had been played, he just got their first but only hit the ball out wide on the right, It was picked up by the Radstock winger who hit a 50 plus yard shot they just went wide of the right hand post with the Bucks keeper still trying too get back into the box.
Bucks then went and made the score line four goals to one, the ball was only half cleared out of the Radstock box and it came to Danny Glaze who hit a good shot into the back of the net. Buckland continued their attack on the Radstock goal and goal number five came about after a good cross from out wide on the left by Simon Reveill to the back post. There was Chris Wright running in for a simple header he could not miss.
I’m not sure but I think Ethan Phillips is a new player at Buckland, he had just came on as a sub and went and grabbed goal number six for Buckland, To be honest it was a bit of a soft goal as the ball was hit from the edge of the area and as the keeper went down to make the save, he slipped and as we was lying on the floor the ball hit in around the middle of his body and over him into the net.
Buckland were not content with six goals and goal number seven was the pick of the bunch. A wonderful dipping volley from the edge of the box by Gavin Hammon that just flew into the net at lightning speed.
The Bucks defence then fell asleep as they allowed Otis Wilson to run into their box and square the ball to Isaac Reed to bury the ball past Kenny Griffiths. It was a bit of a soft goal to give away and sure angered the Bucks manager.
So the score was now seven two to Buckland and surely that was the end of the goal action? Not on your nelly as Buckland still went looking for even more goals. Goal number eight came about after the shot by Lucas Burgess was blocked; the ball fell to that man Chris Wright who was scoring goals for fun, to force over the line from close in by the left hand post. With not a lot of time on the clock to play, Bucks played a long ball up to Chris Wright, I thought he looked offside but the flag stayed down and he made no mistake with finding the back of the net.
Pure entertainment that’s all I can and will say, all for £5 with a wonderful programme included, but then there has never been any game I have seen played at Homers Heath that I have not enjoyed and came home unhappy. Well done Bucks, I’m sure it won’t be too long when you catch up on those fixtures, before you are near the top of the table.
Bucks groundsman tufc01 brother tends to the pitch at halftime
The man himself Bucklandgull
