MATCH REPORT : YELLOW v Buckstone P4

YELLOW 3v4 Buckstone P4
Another thriller at the Meadows as a bumper Yellow squad took on a very skillful Buckstone team.  The game started with a slightly altered formation with Amir in goals (but missing his favourite gloves), Joe R and Keir providing the rock solid defence, Joseph Bru, Valdi and Matthew in midfield and Owen the main striker.

Buckstone flew into the game from kick-off and mounted wave upon wave of attacks and it took the Sciennes team some time to settle into the game.  Amir was a calming influence at the back and Keir was just about remembering that it was football and not rugby!  (A couple of balls whizzed passed our big defender and he very nearly caught them!)

Joe R took his time to get into the game but soon started to bring the ball out nicely feeding Joseph Bru with the ball.  Joseph Bru was having a brilliant game in midfield and was beginning to look dangerous in the Buckstone half.

Then however we had a disaster.  After the first period of Sciennes pressure Buckstone broke and swarmed forward.  As the defence scrambled back into posistion the Buckstone forward shot - the ball spun unkindly under a diving Amir.  0-1 Buckstone.

The bumper Yellow squad allowed the coach to rotate players so a number of substitutions took place.  Joseph Bar came into defence and Aiden slotted into midfield alongside Abhisar.  With the team refreshed things started to look a lot better with some excellent passing from Joe R leading to another driving run from Joseph Bru which the Buckstone defence only just managed to clear.  The equaliser was surely only moments away?  It was!

(Abhisar leads the way in midfield as Aiden fixes something!)

A great passing move from the team saw Owen pass into Joseph Bru who cooly slotted home from about 3 feet!  A very well worked move and great finish.  1-1.

The game was beginning to stretch out more now and the Yellow team were really beginning to find gaps in the Buckstone defence.  Owen and Valdi both had great shots that just missed the target.  Matthew was providing great support from midfield with constant running and movement.  Half-time 1-1.

(Abhisar tries a risky back-heel clearance as Amir watches in horror!) 

The second half started with Sciennes dominating possession and looking very comfortable at the back.  Abhisar was now in goals and Amir helping out the midfield.  Owen was resting on the sidelines but always encouraging his team.  A break from Buckstone saw them swamp the Sciennes defence and Abhisar could do nothing to stop a powerful shot from the Buckstone forward. 1-2 Buckstone.

Another team change saw Owen restored as striker with Valdi and Matthew playing in midfeild alongside the dangerous Joseph Bru.  Joseph Bar and Joe R were in defence and playing extremely well.  It wasn't long before the Yellows were swarming all over the Buckstone goal and eventually the second equaliser arrived.  Joseph Bru found his way past a couple of defenders and played the ball to Owen who fired home from the edge of the box.  2-2.  What excitement!

The big pitch and the thick mud were beginning to have an effect on the boys.  Legs started to get tired and the movement slowed.  Breaks upfield were fine but the defenders were finding it more difficult to get back into position.  Sure enough a couple of Buckstone breaks saw them fire home two goals. 2-4 Buckstone.

A frank exchange of views from Joseph Bar let everyone know that the defence had to stay back and help him a bit more!  This seemed to do the trick as the team shape improved greatly after that and the energy levels were restored.  A fantastic final effort saw Valdi, Aiden and Keir all have shots fly just wide.  With almost the last kick of the ball Valdi found some room inside the box and fired home to make it 3-4.  They couldn't find an equalising goal again - could they?

The short answer was "no". The long answer involved one final effort from the entire team (including the loud support) urging the team forward only to be thwarted by a packed Buckstone defence that managed to hack the ball away. The referee, who had an excellent game, especially in the second half, finally blew for full time. 3-4 Buckstone but a fantastic match played in a great spirit by both teams.

As the teams lined up to congratulate each other the large crowd that lined the Meadows clapped and cheered very enthusiastically - it was a great game. 

(The Yellows : back - Joe R, Joseph Bar, Joseph Bru, Abhisar, front - Valdi, Matthew, Owen, Amir, Aiden and Keir.)

I can't wait for the return game at Buckstone.