On Saturday, Bucks CC made the short trip to Walton Court, to face an Elmhurst team that have impressed many people this season.
With results having not gone their way in the last few games, Bucks knew that they would have to work hard and play well in order to get a result in this game.This was made even more evident when the home team flew out of the blocks with pacey attacks right from the start, putting the Bucks back 4 of Bannister, Oxley, Ainger and Sinfield under pressure early on. The Bucks defence and midfield were slow to impose themselves on the game and were losing the early battles.This therefore meant that they failed to get the ball forward to the lone-striker Lewis Creser with any regularity.This in turn was enabling the Elmhurst midfield to get forward time after time and it was after 23 minutes that they took the lead.A quick attack down the right of midfield saw the winger cut inside before unleashing a shot, which was blocked, before falling to the onrushing midfielder whose shot from the edge of the box was deflected in past Moran in the Bucks goal.
As the half wore on, the away team’s midfield started to get more on top of their opposition which enabled Bucks to play with more fluidity higher up the pitch.Half chances were created for Creser and Long but they were unable to break the barrier in front of the Elmhurst goal, so at half time the score was 1-0 to the home side.
The 2nd half started exactly as Bucks CC would have hoped for with a goal inside the first 5 minutes. A battle in the middle of the pitch saw Vinny Greco come away with the ball before playing it wide to Creser who had picked up a position wide on the left.After one touch to control the ball, he delivered an inviting ball in to the box which Ray Long headed past the on rushing keeper to level the game (49 mins). With the score line level and Bucks looking a much more settled team than had started the game, there was plenty of possession for the away team and pressure was building on the Elmhurst back line.Elmhurst were not about to roll over though and sought to get forward as quickly and often as possible, which was nullified very effectively by Troy Bailey-Goss in a defensive midfield role and the back four behind him.With a solid base to build on, Bucks mounted attack after attack but were just not able to create the clear chance that their hard work had deserved.
Ray Long was involved in a well fought battle with the Elmhurst left-back all day, which saw the Bucks man booked with 25 minutes to play, but also saw the award of a free-kick on the edge of the box when he was pulled down while travelling at pace.Lewis Creser stepped up to take the kick and when it was parried by the keeper, Daniel Jones was first to react with a sliding finish to make the score 2-1 (68 mins). Elmhurst reacted very positively after going behind but their attacks were well dealt with by the away defence before they were able to get any efforts on goal.The pressure by Elmhurst was opening the game up and Mark Swiercynski, who had earlier replaced Greco, worked well with Creser to pin back the Elmhurst defence when the ball made its way out to them.With just over 10 minutes to go, Ray Long was shown a 2nd yellow card for a series of fouls in close succession, and in response, Tony Castielli was replaced by James Baxter as Bucks looked to see out the game.The last 10 minutes past with little excitement and Bucks held on for a well deserved away win.
Man of the match this week went to Daniel Jones for his tireless performance in the middle of the pitch, which was justifiably topped off with a goal.
Bucks are again on the road again next week, for the fourth game in a row, where they face last season league champions Walton Court Wanderers.
