Saturday 14th January 2006

• Opponent: Lovacott / J&A
• Fixture type: League Cup
• Venue: Home
• Result: Lost 2-1
• Scorers: Simon Adams

Match Report

Buckland’s defence of the ‘League Cup’ began in fine fashion, as the side created several scoring opportunities during the opening 15 minutes. The best chance came on 8 minutes as Simon Adams' pace took him clear on the wing. His cross was met 8yds out by Gary Tanton who hit a good shot that the keeper just managed to block with his legs. On 20 minutes Simon Adams struck a superb shot from 30yds that flew over the stranded keeper and into the top corner of the net to put Buckland ahead. Lovacott levelled on 30 minutes as the referee over-ruled the linesman's flag and awarded what looked like a goal scored from an offside position.

The second half was only 10 minutes old as a Lovacott defender was given too much space in the Buckland area following a corner and slotted the ball home from 12yds. The match remained evenly contested for the next 20 minutes until the Lovacott keeper almost gifted Buckland a goal as a free kick whipped into the box slipped through his hands, hit his head and bounced just over the crossbar from less than 2yds. Ten minutes from time, Buckland thought they had levelled the match as a Lovacott defender sliced an attempted clearance into this own net only for the goal to be ruled offside. In the lead up to the goal the linesman had been seen to flag for offside, apparently for a player in the middle of the field, even though the ball was passed up the edge of the park to a winger who was definitely in an on-side position. The referee allowed play to continue. The ball was immediately crossed into the opposition area where a defender sliced the ball into his own net. The referee was returning for the restart when he was forced to consult with the linesman. To the total disbelief of the Buckland players the goal was disallowed for the player receiving the original pass being adjudged to have been in an offside position. Something that most people in the ground could not believe, which included several of the Lovacott defenders!!!

The last minutes of the match were a hotly contested affair with two Buckland players receiving red cards in injury time as tempers flared.

Man of the Match: Phil Short (midfield)