On the 22nd of August 2015 was the day the ressies played their first official match of the 2015/16 campaign. Lay ahead of them a tough task playing the Buckden FC first team in a pre season friendly on the 3G astro at Hinchingbrooke. With the sun beaming down and the players raring to go it began.
In the early exchanges of the game both teams played some hellacious football and the ressies certainly showed they were no pushovers despite the underdog status of the tie. Although the teams were fairily well matched during the first 25 minute stage the first team were certainly asking questions of the ressies defence having more of the attacking spells in the game. The ressies used this to their advantage and held tight as a unit and when the chance arose played some quality fast paced counter attacking football using the full backs for width and then using their more creative players such as Sam Underwood and Jack Bramley as outlets. All was well and they went into the first 25 minute stage level and then commenced the first water break due to the scorching conditions.
The teams returned feeling refreshed and the reserves were certainly feeling optimistic about the next stage and went on to play some good stuff perhaps shocking the first team as they may have not expected such an evens game up until this point. Despite the efforts of the reserves it was not to be as they conceded just on the edge of half time going 1-0 down but this was not to dampen their spirits as they were determined to strike back.
Half time and the lads were not too disheartened and were keen to get back out there and give this next half a real go. This showed as early into the first half the reserves managed to equalise through a Sam Underwood goal. Sam found himself on the edge the box and managed to put it onto his favoured left foot before curling it towards the far corner and on its way through took a slight deflection which may have surprised the goaly but this was great. Spirits were high and the reserves had the mentality of, we can really do something here. Not long after the equaliser they conceded 2 goals in succession which was very harsh on the performance as 60 minutes in the teams were fairly even but the cutting edge of the first team began to show and it was downhill from there.
The exhausting conditions combining with the fitness levels began to creep in and the reserves began to let their foot of the pedal and lost shape and conceded another making it 4-1. This is when heads started to drop and the performance showed in the first 60 minutes was a shadow over the rest of the tie as the score was about to show. The first team capitalised on this and went on to score a further 3 goals coming from lack of effort and mistakes in key areas. That was all she wrote, the game finished Buckden FC 7, Buckden FC Reserves 1.
As it was only a pre season friendly the result wasn't all that important but what was is the performance and just making sure if we lost we did it doing the right things. The reserves can take plenty from this game with encouraging signs of much better to come, playing some good football and enjoying the game. As they lost the man of the match would have been awarded to a player of the other team but notable mentions for goalkeeper Matt Bone who was superb between the sticks and made several quality saves as well kicking well throughout the whole game. Also mentions for the goalscorer Sam Underwood who showed encouraging signs of becoming of a vital player coming into the new season and also Grant Draper who captained the side on the day, played a few different positions but played well despite this and really made a claim for captaincy.
Plenty of things to come from the boys this year. Watch this space.
