The players arrived on a day of mixed weather and actually lucky for the game to go ahead as so many had been cancelled. Thankfully someone went to B&Q and brought some sand and after much work on it the game was on, after a good thorough warm up in quagmire conditions according to Jonny Love the boys were ready and raring to go. In came glass ankle Chris Dennis for the first game back after 5, as he didn’t fancy going to the zoo, and Jonny Love for the pissed up G man and Fennel for Shano Mac as he had been ‘rested’ (big time). The team talk from the gaffer and assistant had a déjà vu feeling about it and we all knew that we were going to against it 30 seconds in anyway as that’s more fun.
The game started well with good Buckden possession and they were finding space all over the pitch and even though instructions were to not play through the middle the amount of space given to the Buckden midfield could allow for that to happen. After great play from the right hand side the ball came over to Westbury who for the first game appeared to have a wand of a left foot slid it through to the imperious cool calm collected Sam Underwood who is turning into a goal machine from the left hand side, he cut in a rocketed a shot past the helpless goalkeeper. Perfect start to proceedings.
Buckden grew and grew in confidence and despite great touches from Centre half Chris Dennis who was no way near off the pace it was turning into comfortable possession football on a very tricky pitch, great play from Josh Smith on the turn and wriggled through a few players had a shot that rebounded to the feet of James Woo who gobbled up the chance to make it 2-0, much more comfortable than Buckden could of imagined. They were then 3-0 up shortly after great play from Jonny Love to evade a few tackles jinked into the box and set up josh smith for a good finish back post. Buckden were cruising but in unparticular Buckden fashion the foot never went off the gas pedal and just on the stroke of half time they added a fourth after Kieron who was very impressive headed the ball on to the midfield and a Hollywood flick which I thought no one wanted to see from Josh Smith ran through to yet another quality timed run from Sam to fire it hard and low past the onrushing keeper.
After a brief half time team talk and the fact everyone was shocked to find out Adam Westbury wasn’t even blowing we came out to shocking conditions to start the second half with blistering hail and cold. This didn’t dampen Buckden spirits and we started the half the same way as we finished the first, the move started with a superb noodlebar pass cutting the right back and centre back to shreds he found Sam who chipped a delightful ball to Westbury who slotted with no mistake, arguably goal of the game until the 6th that is. A short corner I repeat a short corner that actually worked found Westbury on the edge of the box who whipped an unbelievable ball into the back post to find Chris Dennis who made a lung busting 20 yard run and leaped above the rest to bullet the header past the keeper and make it 6, two great goals here easily the goals of the game. Buckden then made some changes with Dom Smith with a point to prove coming on for his brother up top and Jonny Love coming off but then back on as he had threatened to stab the manager from reports that I am hearing, at the least his toys well and truly left the pram and then Liam Irons coming on later Adam Westbury to have a great cameo.
Buckden were relentless and hungry until the end and with a comfortable afternoon so far the back four started to see a lot more of the ball, Kieron and Dennis knocking it about nicely and Noodles and Brownie seeing loads of space to run into and capatilise on woeful performances from Over. This was proven after Ryan Brown received the ball gave it to James Woo who along with Sam had their full backs on toast, slotted a superb through ball down the channel to Dom Smith who had magnificent movement and hunger to get that goal, he shot and it rebounded off his arse for a rather bizarre goal but one the Striker definitely needed. Then further great work from James Woo down the right hit a pin point cross for Dom to score his second and Buckden’s 8th a really well worked goal. And with Buckden still squeezing and pressing it led to a late penalty after great work from Liam Irons, he touched it into the on running Dom Smith’s path and he was taken out. After a bit of a mis hit penalty, it capped off a miserable day for their goal keeper who should probably retire after that performance, as it trickled under his body and made it 9-0.
A top top performance from the Buckden lads from back to front not giving the Over team an inch right from the start. Multiple man of the match contenders also and a great day at the office for the managerial staff and real selection headache ahead of some huge upcoming games. A massive need to push on now boys and keep getting these points, let’s get this promotion.
Special mention goes to Luke Fennell, Adam Kidman and the returning Chris Dennis.
