Buckland v Torpoint 13/08/11

You will indeed see me on Saturday as one thing I have always enjoyed at Homers Heath, is a very warm welcome. I was planning to eat at the ground, but after receiving a phone call this evening, my plans are now changed.

I have been invited over to a friends house in Torquay and she is going to cook a nice meal for me, its an offer thats just too good to turn down.

What this means is I won't now be able to do a match report with pictures etc, until sometime on Sunday.

Have to say I really enjoyed my afternoon at Homers Heath and I know it’s a ground I’m going to find myself at many times this season. £4 to get in to watch football played at such a high standard, its hard to believe you are watching non league local football, The entrance price s the same as last season and the only increase is the cost of the programme, up from a pound to one pound fifty pence. But it’s only at that price for a month to see how it goes.

First job was to go to the food bar and just how can they sell you a very large and tasty pasty and a can of coke for just two pound ten pence and make a profit? Not to sure but it is sure a welcome change from getting hardly any change from a fiver up at Plainmoor for a hot dog and a cheap bottle of coke.

The pitch looked in very good condition, but the grass looked a shade too long in my opinion, but it was a credit to tufc01’s brother who works so hard for Buckland, providing them with such a good surface to play on. In the far corner is a new storage tank that has just been put in, it seems there is a natural stream or something close by and now Buckland collect the water to be used to water the pitch.

One to the game itself, well there was not a great deal to shout about in the first half, with very little goal action at either end of the pitch. There was plenty on neat passing football and plenty of skill on the ball on show, but neither keeper had much too at all. Torpoint were the better side in the first half and looked the most likely to score first, but they failed to turn many good passing moves into any meaningful attacks.

I did feel a number of Torpoint players in the first half were very lucky to get away with out going into the referees note book. A number of challenges they made were rather dirty lets say and dear old Tom Kelly was getting himself into a right state over some of them.

So half time and the score was nil nil and you wondered if Buckland were going to be able to come out in the second half and up their game to the sort of level you expect from a buckland team. I did not have to wait to long for the answer as Buckland stated the second half in a much more determined mood They kept Torpoint pinned in their own half for most of the second half and the Torpoint goal led a very charmed life as Buckland were denied time after time what would have been the opening goal.

I thought Buckland had a good shout for a penalty, as one of their players looked to have been tripped as he ran into the Torpoint box, but the ref decided not to give it. With the clock ticking down and the end of the match not too far away, I stood there thinking have I ever watched a game at Homers Heath that did not have any goals in it. Well I thought this was going to be the first game it was going to happen until that man Lynch came on as a late sub with about 15 minutes to go.

He may not have the legs these days to play a whole match, but once a goal scorer, always a goal scorer and he sure knows where the net is. With ten minutes to go he put Buckland in the lead with a neat first time volley from a round ten yards? From an inch perfect ball played in from the right wing.

He soon made it two nil to Buckland, I’m not sure if he headed to ball over the line, but as the ball sailed into the box it looked to me as if the Torpoint keeper was happy the ball was going to go past his right hand post and behind for a goal kick, but Lynch got on the end of the ball and got it over the line. A great game of football with Buckland doing what they nearly always do and that is to win the game and do it in style. Lovely to chat with Amy before the game and with Bucklandgull at halftime. Buckland you have won yourself a new fan today and a big thank you from me for the lovely friendly welcome I received from so many of you at the game today.

A fair review of yesterdays game,

As you say the first half both teams were trying to get the upper hand,but little action in both goal areas.

Buckland came out much stronger in the second half and had numerous chances that came and went, with Martin Piper in the Torpoint goal making some good saves.butas we all know Buckland are a much better second half team, and always keep going to the 90 minute.

Buckland brought on their 3 substitutes and one of these was going to have a major say in the outcome of the 3pts.

Antony Lynch (Gaffer) who`s legs may not be able to last 90 minutes these days will always put the ball in the net,and on this occassion failed to let his supporters down.

The first came when a cross from the left found Lynch on the edge of the 6 yard box, and he cooly guided the ball into the net giving the keeper little chance.

With the clock running down Lucas Burgess crossed from the other side,and Lynch rose at the far post and headed the ball home just inside the post, and with it 3pts.

Special praise to new keeper Kenny Griffiths who`s handling was faultless,and also Mark Revell`s strong tackling in midfield and he was my man of the match.

Attendance 138

Lovely to see you Dave. Great photos.

Amy

No need for me to do that, the reports of the Buckland game were made in the board called Local Football Scene. I just enjoyed my afternoon at Homers Heath for all the reasons I said I wanted to go in the first place. Can't wait for their next home game.