Match Report:
Buckland Athletic 4 (Myles James 47, 73), Jared Lewington 59, Josh Grant 85)
Bridgwater United 3 (Jack Taylor 26, Jake Llewellyn 33, Josiah McKayle 90+6)
‘The Robins’ were on the road yet again on Saturday travelling to Kingskerswell for a ‘6 pointer’ v Buckland Athletic who had prevailed by the odd goal in five just 6 weeks previously.
As expected, the Homers Heath playing surface was looking good and conducive to the flowing football to which the visitors have been aspiring.
The opening stages were certainly encouraging as United pushed forward at pace looking for an early breakthrough, but it was the hosts who responded with the first real chance of the game. On 6 minutes a break down the left created a chance for the dangerous Lewington who saw his near post effort well saved by Isaac Finch.
Undeterred by this early incursion, the Robins stepped up their efforts to gain control of the midfield as the Taylor and Thorne combination was soon causing problems for ‘The Bucks’ rear guard and, particularly Tyler Coombes their ‘keeper, who was clearly struggling with his distribution and his dead ball kicking in particular.
Several half chances were created in a dominate spell around the 20-minute mark as both members of the ‘two Jack attack’ as drove wide when well placed. However, the Bridgy faithful, in good voice throughout, did not have too much longer to wait as a perfectly weighted ball into the right-hand channel found Taylor who finished with a low drive to give his side a well-deserved lead. 0-1
It was now all United.
A free kick wide on the right was floated into the box by Jake Llewellyn which, to the surprise of most, bounced on the edge of the 6-yard box and nestled inside the far post with Coombes looking aghast! 0-2.
With 10 minutes remaining until the interval, l there was little evidence of a response from the home side apart from a half chance for Lewington whose hurried shot was scuffed and cleared.
Overall, a comfortable half for United who would have been pleased with their performance given the firepower and quality of the opposition.
Could they maintain their dominance in the second period?
Well, that question was soon answered! With just 2 minutes gone, a long freekick to the far post was glanced home by Myles James 1-2.
A clear change in tactics was now in evidence as the home side pumped long balls down the channels causing the United to clear their lines under increasing pressure.
A jinking run by Morcom saw him reach the edge of the area pretty much unapposed to feed the increasingly influential Lewington who finished well to Finch’s right. 2-2.
The Bucks were now rampant! Another wide free kick from was flicked on by Lewington for James to slide in at the far post to give the Bucks the lead. 3-2
With just 5 minutes remaining, a break down the left reached Lewington on the edge of the area who, after skipping past another desperate United tackle, immediately released Josh Grant to his right to convert with ease and ensure that the turnaround was complete. 4-2
As the minutes ticked past, there was still time for Josiah McKayle, who had replaced George King, to cut inside from the right and arrow a left foot strike past Coombes. 4-3
Could the visitors salvage something from the game, just as they did at Barnstaple in their only draw this season?
Morgan Williams certainly thought so! With just seconds remaining he drove forward into Buckland area where he was upended amidst raucous penalty appeals both on and off the pitch. The referee was unimpressed as he blew his whistle on an archetypical ‘game of two halves.’
By all measures and expectations this was a poor result for The Robins.
They will clearly need to redouble their efforts to secure the results they need in the next 4 games.
United: Finch, D Thorne (Phillips 60), J Llewellyn, Armstrong (Capt), Koppa, Griffith, Taylor, King (McKayle 75), J Thorne, T Llewellyn (Williams 69), Murray.
Sub Unused: Souza
Buckland Athletic: Coombes, Morcom, Farkins (Capt), Carter, Lewington, Rosenquest, Stayt, Shanley, (Hanrahan), Grant (Clark), James, Hall.
Subs Unused: Stockton, Bridger, Hendrickson
Competition: Toolstation
Western League Premier
Attendance: 326
Venue: Homers Heath, Kingskerswell Road, Newton Abbot.
Date: 3rd February 2024
Report: Bob Buckingham
