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On Saturday 10th January, Bucks started their defence of the Marsworth Cup title that they won last season, with a home victory against Long Marston. Having already faced Marston in another cup and the league this season, Bucks were well aware of the threat that they possessed, whilst also being aware that some of the cobwebs from Christmas would need to be blown out. Bucks won the toss and elected to play in to the wind which was blowing with quite a force, so it was clear from kick off that the ball would need to stay on the ground as often as possible.
The game got underway and it wasn’t long before the home team were playing with a fluidity that hadn’t been seen for some time, largely containing the opposition in their own half and keeping the ball for good spells of possession. Unfortunately the good possession was not rewarded with a goal despite efforts from Creser, Bailey-Goss and James Faulkner. Rikki Sinfield was very active on the left flank throughout the first half but any crosses that he delivered into the box seemed to evade the awaiting Faulkner. The remainder of the back 4, Ainger, Bannister, and Chris Faulkner dealt admirably with any threat that the away team posed, which allowed the midfield of Carr, Jones, Creser, Page, and Bailey-Goss to link up well and interchange positions when required. It was this interchanging that created the best move and chance of the first half, which saw Bailey-Goss have his shot blocked when it looked like he would surely score.
Half time arrived with the game goalless but Bucks were well aware that they had been the better team in the first half, limiting the away side to long range efforts which had caused Moran little trouble. The second half saw more of the same from the home side with large spells of possession and much of the game being played in the oppositions half. It wasn’t until over an hour in to the game that the goal that they had deserved arrived in the shape of a Jack Page strike. A Creser free-kick from the right was angled in to Page at the near post to control and smash in to the roof of the net (64mins). The goal was the reward that Bucks deserved and their lead should have been doubled soon after, with both Bailey-Goss and James Faulkner missing great chances when clean through on goal.
The second goal did eventually arrive in the form of a James Faulkner, following a long kick down field by Moran, which was flicked on well by Page for Faulkner to slot passed the keeper from just inside the box(76mins). This was almost the last action of the game for Faulkner as he received a red card soon after the goal, for persistent dissent, which was deemed harsh by all of the players and spectators as he didn’t appear to have committed any offence!? Ben Rickard and Donatus Ekeke replaced Martin Carr and Daniel Jones, and the home side looked to hold on to their lead as the away side pressed for a goal. Despite some brilliant defending from the whole back 5, the goal that Marston were pressing for did arrive. A through ball caught out the centre backs before the striker dispatched a right foot shot which Moran almost saved despite initially moving the wrong way (85mins). It was real backs to the wall stuff for Bucks in the remaining minutes, with Moran called upon to make a smart reflex save from a corner, which Ainger followed up to complete the clearance. The final whistle sounded and Bucks were in to the next round, where they will face either Berkhamsted Sports or AFC Victoria.
Man of the match this week went to Jack Page for his tireless effort on the right wing, which saw him interchanging well with the other midfielders as well as getting himself a goal and an assist.
Next Saturday (17th January 2015) Bucks are back on the road with a trip to High Wycombe to face Downley Albion in the Tom Sparkes League Cup (1:30 Kick Off).
