On Saturday 14th March, Bucks played host to fierce rivals Walton Court Wanderers in what would be the last meeting between the 2 sides this season, this time in the League Cup Quarter-Final. Walton Court had been victorious in both of the earlier meetings this term, so Bucks were under no illusions about the toughness of the task that lay ahead of them.
A slight change in formation and personnel saw Lewis Creser slot in to centre half with Michael Ainger, with support at full-backs provided y Jack Page and Rikki Sinfield. Further up the pitch, Carl Moreton made a welcome comeback to partner James Faulkner up front, and they were supported by a midfield quartet of Troy Bailey-Goss, Daniel Jones, Raimond Long, and Rae Undi.
Despite the changes in the team, the home side started well, taking control of possession all over the pitch and really setting about getting stuck in to the opposition. This saw early yellow cards awarded to Creser and Jones, but it also prevented Walton Court from getting too much of a foot hold in the game. Chances at either end were few and far between inside the first 25 minutes, but as the game past the half hour mark, Bucks broke the deadlock. A good team move saw the ball worked down the left before the ball was delivered into the box where Long was waiting to unleash a strong right foot strike. The shot didn’t find its way into the net, but the keeper could only parry, and Carl Moreton was first to react before putting the ball over the line (29mins). This was no more than the home side had deserved from their dogged and determined start to the game. Shortly after the goal, the away side were reduced to 10 men following a straight red card. Right back Jack Page used his strength to shepherd the ball out of play with the Walton Court winger clipping at his heels. There was amazement all round when the reaction of the Wanderers player was to spit in the face of the Bucks defender, giving the ref no option other than to issue the red card (34mins). The half played out much like the first 35 minutes, with the majority of the game being contested in the midfield area.
The second half continued in the same vein, with some strong challenges being contested all over the pitch and the sides were equal in number once again, when Daniel Jones saw red for his second yellow card of the game (63 mins). A slight reshuffle saw Carl Moreton drop a bit deeper to fill the gap left by Jones and Bucks set about defending their lead, at times coming under immense pressure. This pressure eventually told, when a ball in to the box was not cleared, and from the resulting scramble, it was adjudged that Michael Ainger had committed a foul and a penalty was awarded. Moran went the right way but was unable to stop the penalty, that smashed into the side netting (78 mins). In games gone by, the goal would have rocked the home side, but not on this occasion. Almost immediately after the kick-off, Bucks were awarded a free-kick in the oppositions final third. Raimond Long stepped up and crashed a dead ball against the wall, but much to the delight of the home fans, the ball deflected to beat the keeper and nestle into the bottom right corner (80 mins). The last 10 minutes played out without much action in either goal area and there was a great sense of relief and justification when the referees final whistle blew.
Man of the match this week was an almost unanimous decision, with Jack Page the clear winner. Bucks will go on to face either Aylesbury Park Rangers or Haddenham United in the semi-final in the middle of April.
Next up for Bucks is a Semi-Final against FC Spandits, in the Thomas Field Shield, one of the two cups that they won last season. (21st March - Fairford Leys - 1:30 KO)
