Saturday 29th December 2007
- Opponent: Northam Lions
- Fixture type: League
- Venue: Home
- Result: Won 4-1
- Scorers: Simon Adams (4)
Match Report
A strong Northam Lions outfit arrived at Buckland on an afternoon of high wind and a soggy pitch. The home side had the advantage of the wind at their backs during the opening period and pinned the visitors into their own half for most of the first 45 minutes. Simon Adams, after 15 minutes, struck the initial blow for Buckland as his shot from 16yds deflected off the goalkeepers leg and dropped into the goal just before a defender attempted to clear. The home side continued to press forward and on 25 minutes Danny Woolf collected a loose ball on the wing and played a low pass across the face of the goal for Simon Adams to easily tap in at the far post.
The second half began in excellent fashion for the home side as Ed Jonckheere collected the ball in the centre circle within the first minute and struck a through ball to Simon Adams wide on the wing. He sprinted up the touchline, holding off the attentions of two defenders, before cutting inside the penalty area and calmly slotting the ball past a static keeper to add goal number three. The ‘Lions now threw caution to the wind and brought on a couple of substitutes. Buckland now had to endure long periods of sustained pressure as their opponents attacked relentlessly. The visitors made a break through after 15 minutes as one of the substitutes scored with a shot on the turn from 12yds. For the subsequent 20 minutes Buckland’s defence had to soak up continued attacks by the ‘Lions strikers. Luckily for veteran keeper and manager John Adams his decision to play Vinny Bott and Matt Cann together in midfield proved invaluable as the two players battled superbly to prevent their aging keeper from being overworked. With the game entering the final 10 minutes substitute Steve Bennett played a 40yd cross field ball to the feet of Simon Adams who took the ball past the last defender and smashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to seal victory.
Man of the Match: Simon Adams (striker), Vinny Bott and Matt Cann (midfield)