On Saturday 24th January, Bucks hosted ADL title contenders Aylesbury Dynamos, a team that Bucks drew 2-2 with in the reverse fixture. With a number of players unavailable, and some new players coming in to the fold, the Bucks line-up was barely recognisable. Moran resumed his position in goal with Ainger moving to left back, Bannister and new signing Will Hatton in Central Defence, and another debutant at right back in the form of Ian Chiarello. The midfield was made up of Underhill, who was returning from a long injury lay-off, Creser, Jones, Bailey-Goss and Page, with Martin Carr leading the line up front.
The change in personnel certainly seemed to affect Bucks in the opening stages, with many passes going astray, and players being noticeably out of position when they weren’t in possession. Somewhat surprisingly though, it was the home team who took the lead. Good interchange down the left from Ainger and Bailey-Goss saw a neat pass inside towards Creser, but it was the onrushing Jack Page who picked up the ball before unleashing a fierce strike into the bottom left hand corner (19mins). Straight from the restart Dynamos were on the attack and putting pressure on the Bucks back four. Moran was called in to action when a Dynamos’ forward seemingly had an open goal but Moran covered the ground across his goal quickly before making a smart reflex save. This proved to be only a brief respite as the away side levelled a minute later. A straight ball through the centre-backs was picked up by the Dynamo’s striker who squared for his team mate to score from 12 yards out (23mins).
The equalizer had given the away side a clear boost and they were on the attack again soon after. Another ball out of the middle of midfield found the striker who skipped passed Bannister before rounding Moran and slotting the ball into the empty net (29mins). Bucks were really up against it now and knew that possession of the ball was important if they were going to create a chance to level the score. This saw a lot of “safe” passes being made, often square or backwards, and one of these passes would prove to be their undoing. Ainger played the ball into Bannister just short of the half-way line, and when he tried to pass the ball across to Hatton, it was easily intercepted by the Dynamos striker who proceeded to run clear of the back four before slotting neatly passed Moran (36mins). Arguably Bucks best chance of the half came right at the death, when neat passing from Ainger, Jones, Bailey-Goss and Creser, saw the latter running in on goal before smashing the ball just wide of the back post.
The second half saw a change in personnel and formation for Bucks with Castielli replacing Chiarello, and Carr dropping back into midfield. This change looked as though it could bear fruit as Castielli went through, before blazing over the crossbar. The possession stats for the half would probably have been in Bucks favour but the chances were just not coming as the away side defended resolutely. Despite the possession being in Bucks favour, it was Dynamos who had the best chances of the half. First a corner which was not cleared had to be saved by Moran after it was cleared off the line by Ainger, before a penalty was conceded by Bannister after the striker had taken the ball round Moran. The Dynamos’ player stepped up right footed but Moran guessed the right way and managed to hold on the ball just inside his bottom right hand corner. Half chances for Creser, Castielli, Bailey-Goss and Undi, who had earlier replaced Carr in midfield, would follow but with none of them hitting the back of the net, the game finished 3-1.
In summary, a mad 15 minutes in the first half was the downfall of Bucks, in a game which they competed well but struggled to convert chances without a recognised striker.
Man Of The Match this week was unanimous decision with the award going to Moran for his saves that could have kept Bucks in the game, if chances were converted at the other end.
Next week Bucks travel to Oakley United Reserves, fighting for a place in the Semi-finals of the Field Shield (2:00 pm).
