On Saturday 1st November Bucks CC faced local rivals Walton Court in their 4th successive away game. There has been a fierce rivalry between the two sides over the last few years and both teams arrived expecting a tough game.
The game started at a slow pace with possession being passed over frequently, and many passes going astray, which may have been in part down to the long grass. Once the pace of the game increased it looked as though both teams would be looking to find rewards from the long ball over the top. Lewis Creser worked hard up front with lots of runs in to the channels but he was often outnumbered and these runs were nullified well by the home team’s defence. It was a similar story at the other end where the centre-back partnership of Ainger and Oxley were keeping the Walton Court striker quiet.
Combined with the long grass, the sun was very low and shining straight down the pitch, which made defending for Bucks very difficult in the first half and just before the half hour mark they found themselves 1-0 down. A cross to the back post found the winger, who had pulled off his marker to head across goal, for the centre forward to tap home unopposed from 6 yards (28 mins). A reaction was needed from Bucks but it was the home side that doubled their lead before the break. A long ball down the right channel for Walton Court went over the head of Rikki Sinfield, before the winger poked past Moran who was struggling with the sun, but perhaps should have done better (41 mins).
Halftime came and went but the away side still struggled to find the sort of form that had served them well in the previous game. There seemed to be a better level of urgency from Bucks but this seemed to be matched by the home side with few chances created at either end. Ray Long and Michael Ainger picked up bookings for remonstrating with the referee, who had a poor game, following clear fouls in dangerous areas for Bucks. Tony Castielli replaced Mark Swiercynski which added fresh legs to a midfield of Jones, Bailey-Goss, and Clay but they were unable to break through the Walton Court defence.
With Bucks pushing forward in an attempt to get back in the game, Walton Court scored again late on, to increase the lead to 3. The left winger beat Tom Keen, who had earlier replaced Scott Bannister, and crossed for the right winger to smash home at the back post (83). The last minutes of the game passed without any real talking points or efforts at either end.
Man of the match this week, again went to Daniel Jones for his tireless box-to-box performance, in the Bucks midfield.
It’s cup action next up for Bucks as they start their campaign to defend the Field Shield which they won last season. After 4 away games, with mixed fortunes, Bucks will be looking to get back on track with a home win.
