Saturday 8th November saw Bucks start the defence of the Thomas Field Shield, a competition that they won last season, by hosting ADL Premier League side Berko Sports.With five 1st team regulars unavailable, the squad and starting line-up looked very different from the team that started the previous game. James Faulkner returned to the lead the line for the 1st time this season, whilst Ryan Hamilton and Charlie Skiller took up the full-back roles.
Rain had been forecast throughout the afternoon but nobody could have been prepared for the downfall that interrupted the game after just 3 minutes. A good start from Bucks saw them one-nil up when the teams were taken off the pitch by referee Anthony Hari. Faulkner closed down the Berko keeper, whose clearance fell straight to Daniel Jones 30 yards from goal who hit a right-foot half volley first time, over the keeper and into the net (2 mins). Following a 10 minute delay the teams returned to the pitch and the game continued. Berko had a golden opportunity to equalise immediately after the re-start when a poor pass from Moran fell to the feet of the striker. Moran came out to face the striker and saved well down to his right, to spare his own blushes.
Despite standing water starting to appear in certain areas of the pitch, the home team were knocking the ball around well and creating chances which the keeper dealt with well in the wet conditions. Berko, who are renowned for their direct style of play, were no different on this occasion and often looked to win throw-ins and set pieces high up the field. It was from a throw-in that the equalising goal came. Flicked on by the Berko captain, a shot came in from the edge of the box which Moran could only parry having seen it late, and the Berko striker reacted first to smash home from close range (17 mins). The home side regained the lead 5 minutes later when a whipped free-kick from Carl Clay on the left was headed home by Faulkner who had evaded his marker (22 mins). An injury to Ryan Hamilton, who was having a good game at left-back, meant that he had to be replaced but Durrelle Palmer midway through the first half. The game plan from the away side remained the same and it paid dividends when they equalised again from a free-kick.The ball was flicked on and when Scott Bannister failed to complete his clearance, it was stabbed home at the back post (29 mins). The sides were only level again for a few minutes before Faulkner got his 2nd goal of the game following a well worked move. A good spell of midfield possession saw the ball worked wide on the right to Tony Castielli who crossed to the near post where Lewis Creser beat the defender to turn the ball goalwards. The keeper in the away goal made a smart save but couldn't hold the ball and Faulkner was on hand to tap home from 6 yards (37mins). Berko equalised for the 3rd time shortly before half time, this time in circumstances which were controversial to all those present, other than the referee! A high looping cross was caught comfortably at the near post by Moran, only for the Berko forward to back in to him and head the ball from his grasp, before a team mate tapped the ball in to the empty net (44 mins).
Bucks knew at half time that they had been the better team but they also knew that they needed to deal better with the aerial attacks that Berko were using well. This is exactly what happened right from the start of the half with Rikki Sinfield and Charlie Skiller controlling the flanks whilst Bannister and Palmer dealt admirably with the aerial balls down the middle. This provided a good base for Bucks’ more advanced players to build on and they knocked the ball around well but were unable to find a way past the resolute defence and goalkeeper. Faulkner came close when he turned the defender in the box and crashed a left foot curling shot against the cross-bar, but still the 4th goal didn’t come for the home side. Persistence did pay off in the end though, following good move that started right from the back. Moran clipped a ball out to Creser on the right wing, who played a neat 1-2 with Jones before releasing Faulkner down the right channel. As Faulkner strode away from the chasing defender he looked up to see Troy Bailey-Goss arriving at the back post and duly put the ball on a plate for the industrious midfielder to finish (78 mins). At this point it looked as though the away team had run out of stamina and started to revert to illegal means in order to stop Bucks’ attacks, often with Creser as the target .Time after time the referee elected to take no action which led to an increased physicality to the closing stages. Bucks came close to increasing their lead towards the end of the game through Creser, Faulkner and Bailey-Goss but the scoreline finished 4-3 and Bucks progress to the next round.
Man of the match this week went to the returning James Faulkner who worked tirelessly to provide a focal point in the Bucks attacks and got his rewards with 2 goals.
It’s another cup game for Bucks next week as they travel to Long Marston in the Tom Sparkes League Cup (1.30 kick-off)
