Buckland Athletic secure a six-point week

BUCKLAND Athletic followed up a midweek win away at struggling Wellington AFC with a home victory over Wells City by the same scoreline, on Saturday, September 12.

Manager Matt Cusack “set a target this week to try and achieve six points” and they did exactly that, scoring six goals in the process.

The Yellows started brightly at The VX3 Stadium and after a couple of promising forays forward, Sammy Stayt fired them into the lead.

Jack Baxter found himself in space once more and moved the ball on to Stayt who took his time before picking out the bottom corner.

Not for the first time this season, Buckland were then unable to push on and capitalise on their early dominance, instead inviting the pressure from Wells.

Despite now being a bit wasteful and indecisive in possession, it looked as if the hosts would have a golden opportunity to double their advantage from the penalty spot.

Ryan Bush latched onto a loose ball and went down under the challenge on the edge of the area. With the referee blowing the whistle, the debate seemed to be between a free-kick or a penalty but after consulting his linesman, a yellow card came out for Bush instead, to the frustration of his manager.

“There was contact but, because he’s blown, retrospectively the letter of the law then says he has to book him which I think is a ridiculous rule. They need to look at that,” said Cusack.

The officials were at the heart of the action again with Buckland players appealing for a foul just inside their own half and Wells’ Jacob Reader driving on and curling a leveller beyond Mike Searle.

Wells had an added confidence after scoring and nearly had a second when a cross was flashed across the face of goal but nobody gambled enough to be able to tap home.

Buckland went flying out of the blocks in the second half as well and had another goal to show for it.

Baga Mariko and Fin Herbert’s robust work in midfield saw the ball overturned, Bush then setting Stayt away down the right.

The winger was faced with an acute angle but he was still able to squeeze it in at the near post and double his tally for the day, continuing his brilliant start to the season, as highlighted by Cusack.

“Sammy is playing out of his skin at the minute. I think this is the best start to a season that he’s ever had, he’s playing superbly well and long may that continue.”

Bush then put a couple of half chances off target as the Bucks shifted firmly into the ascendancy, Mariko’s relentless nature setting up one from which his striker should probably have done better.

It is often said that decisions level themselves out across a football season but maybe that happened all in one afternoon.

Searle was flying out and shortly after the Wells forward’s attempt went soaring over the bar, he was wiped out by the Buckland goalkeeper. The away side were up in arms and understandably so but after a lengthy delay, the referee decided against pointing to the spot, then booking the Wells manager for his protestations.

Cusack turned to his bench and first sent on Coby White and Toby Pullman for Mariko and Herbert, both replacements making an impact.

White matched Mariko’s energy and put in some perfect tackles whilst Pullman notched the clinching goal.

Danny Frankum’s hard work paid dividends and as he laid it off to Bush, the fullback then made his way into the box, ready to get on the end of the pullback. It was Pullman who converted from a few yards out though, jumping into Bush’s arms to celebrate his second of the campaign.

Further chances came from Pullman and Stayt whilst there were half-hearted penalty appeals when Josiah McKayle was barged to the turf.

There were also concerns for skipper Ben Carter who was down for a few minutes before eventually hobbling off, returning to the action and putting in a few trademark, crunching tackles.

Wells’ game was made more difficult when goalscorer Reader was sin-binned for overstepping the mark vocally but, by then, the outcome was decided anyway.

Reflecting after the final whistle, Cusack commented: “I’m disappointed that we didn’t capitalise on going 1-0 up. Territorially we were quite good but just lacking that final product in the final third.

“At halftime, the message was very much to get out and be on the front foot in the second half and we needed that because we haven’t done that recently.”

He continued, “Today’s win lifts us to third but it’s a big month so we’ll just take them one game at a time.”

The Bucks have four fixtures still to come in this busy month. They head to fellow promotion hopefuls Clevedon Town next weekend (Saturday 19) before hosting Crediton United in the St Luke’s Challenge Cup (Wednesday 23), visiting Street FC (Saturday 26) and then returning home to face Tavistock AFC (Wednesday 30).