Bridgwater United 2 Buckland Athletic 0

Everybody loves a happy ending. An enthralling season of many highs and some disappointments was concluded in a highly satisfactory way with a committed United team comfortably overcoming third placed Buckland. In so doing, United leapfrogged the Devon side and , unless Buckland can win at Barnstaple in their final game, they will stay ahead of them.

Before the game one wondered if the Robins could maintain the tenacity, composure and sheer hard work which got them so close to a win over Mousehole. This time they gave a commanding 90 minute performance and sent the fans home very happy. Buckland ended in disarray with just 9 players on the pitch.

United almost gifted an early goal to the visitors when Morgan Williams was caught in possession whilst trying to play out from the back. With Steve Phillips a bit out of position, Josh Webber snatched at the ball and dragged it wide.

The Robins pinched the lead after 17 minutes and it was a fine goal. Recovering well from his earlier blip, Williams was again massively influential and he it was who threaded a pass to Jack Thorne who was just outside the penalty area on the left. He cut inside and rifled a rising drive inside the right post. A top finish.

The goal-hungry Jacob Spence headed narrowly wide from a pinpoint Jake Llewellyn corner kick. Buckland had the bad habit of conceding many free kicks in their own half and this kept United interested and on top. However, defensive pillar Rob Farkins did a fine job in clearing most of them. Some of the Buckland players were losing their rag a bit and after showing dissent to the referee, defender Jordan Pearce was sinbinned. During this period of player reduction, United lost the services of Jack Thorne to injury and Conor Hartley replaced him.

Half time – Bridgwater United 1 Buckland Athletic 0

Early in the second half Hartley turned smartly and slammed an effort a foot too high but Buckland went closer after 55 minutes. From a free kick the ball was headed down to Ryan Bush about 10 yards out. He didn’t hit the shot too firmly but it was going in until Williams spread himself on the goal line to block it.

On the hour we witnessed a wonderful slice of football quality. Jake Llewellyn’s powerful volleyed pass was well controlled by brother Tom. Tom progressed to the edge of the area and aimed a shot for just inside the right post. Keeper Andy Collings distinguished himself with a full length dive which just diverted the ball enough to evade the goal. From the following corner kick Ross Edwards headed over.

Buckland’s Ciaran Bridger gave Phillips something to do with a firm drive after Webber’s free kick had been thwarted by the defensive wall. A couple of minutes after that came goal number two. Jake Brown broke down the left and his cross was headed out but not far.  Tom Llewellyn near the edge of the box, met the ball on the volley, drove it  into the ground and Collings couldn’t get to it.

It was very nearly three up when Jack Taylor went to greet a tempting Hartley cross. He got too much onto the ball and headed too high.

Buckland demonstrated they they were still in it when Farkins won an aerial battle in the United box from a corner kick. His header firstly struck Edwards, stationed by the left post and then Tom Llewellyn , stationed by the right post! That’s why you have players in those positions when defending corners.

With the game going into the last 10 minutes, the visitors lost their self discipline as well as any chance of salvaging a point. Firstly Jared Lewington became the second player to enter the sin bin. Then Pearce was shown the red card for protesting about the award of a penalty in foul and abusive terms. It was the linesman who ruled that Brown had been fouled and it was the linesman who took the brunt of Pearce’s anger. Brown’s penalty was well placed and hit but again Collings was superb as he pushed the ball against the post.

With United now enjoying their numerical superiority the huge and cheerful crowd of 449 thoroughly enjoyed a spell of prolonged possession. There was still time for one last hurrah. Brown looked a certainty to score when he lashed the ball past Collings. Somehow or other, Farkins got back on the line and he managed to get in the way of the shot and miraculously get it over the bar. How he did that, goodness knows.

No end of season fade out here. This was a great way to sign off until next season.

Match details:

Bridgwater United: Phillips, Armstrong, J Llewellyn, Williams ( D.Thorne 73), Greenwood, Spence, T Llewellyn , Taylor ( F.Smith 81), J Thorne ( Hartley 46) , Mabia ( Brown 67), Edwards.

Buckland Athletic: Collings, Robins, Morcom, Pearce, Farkins, Hendrickson, Stayt, Bridger, Bush, Lewington, Webber. Subs. Hedges, Hall, Ramsey, Roberts.

Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier

Date: April 22^nd 2023

Venue: Fairfax Park

Goals: J Thorne 17, T Llewellyn 73

Attendance : 449

Referee: David Lilly.  Assistants:  Mark Walker, Paul Bell