With Storm Bert beginning to show its teeth across the country, a number of games had already fallen foul of the weather, including my daughter's game in the morning. So, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that my first choice game was on. Not wanting to do too much travelling today, I had opted for a North Bucks Intermediate League clash between Finmere and Deanshanger Athletic, teams at opposite ends of the table. Prior to kick-off Athletic sat in third spot, seven points off the leaders, Olney, having played a game more. Finmere were second from bottom, seven points clear of the bottom side, Bletchley Scot Reserves and within striking distance of jumping a couple of places with a win. The teams met on the opening day of the season (presumably a much warmer and drier day than today), with Deanshanger coming out victorious by 4-0. Two goals from Dan McLaren and one each for Jack Harris and Ben Stevenson. It would be my second time watching Deanshanger this season, having witnessed their 1-1 draw at Woburn & Wavendon back in September (Call The Cops. There's Been A Mugging). I'd never seen Finmere play, home or away, before, despite the village only being 8 miles from home.
Many thanks to match official Joe Major for sharing the team sheets with me prior to kick-off.
Many thanks to match official Joe Major for sharing the team sheets with me prior to kick-off.
Jack Harris (hidden) about to head home With second placed Woburn & Wavendon in cup action, Athletic knew a win would take them into second place, and they didn't waste too much time in asserting themselves. Only four minutes were on the clock when they were awarded a free-kick in a fairly central spot some 20 yards out. Scott Moore struck his shot well enough but it was the deflection off the wall that wrong-footed home goalkeeper Alex Hayley and resulted in the ball nestling in the back of the home net. 0-1.
An already confident Deanshanger side were bolstered by the early goal and set about increasing their lead, something they achieved in the 10th minute. A corner from their right was directed toward the back post where captain Jack Harris rose highest to plant his header into the corner of the net. 0-2 Two became three in the 14th minute, and it was all too easy for the visitors. George Barry burst down the right before pulling the ball back into the path of Ben Stevenson, who gleefully swept the ball past Hayley for 0-3.
Finmere were in real danger of being overrun by their visitors at this point but, to their credit, they did stem the flow a little. Hayley was called into action again to thwart Dan Forbie on 21 minutes but, a further four minutes down the line, Athletic made it four. Once again, the damage was done on the right, Barry again being sent clear. His low cross was aimed at Dan McLaren but the centre-forward couldn't get a clean strike on the ball, which continued on it's path, falling for Dan Forbie, and the winger smashed the ball home. 0-4
It looked like game over, with barely half an hour played. Then, out of nowhere, Finmere got a goal back. It came from Deanshanger making a mess out of playing out from the back. They gifted the ball to Finmere deep inside their own half, which was fed across the box to Louis Cane, who made no mistake with his finish. 1-4.
The goal seemed to rattle the visitors a little, and gave The Fins a boost. Cane, who had already looked like Finemere's most lively player, was that yard faster. Whilst not threatening the away goal too much, they did have a brief period where their own goal wasn't under threat. That was until the 37th minute, when Deanshanger restored their four goal lead. The ball was fed to Dan Forbie on the left. He drove forward, cutting inside and across the face of the penalty area, beat a couple of challenges, before firing low past Hayley's right-hand. 1-5
The response from the home side was almost immediate. Only a good save from Sam Watts prevented Toby Bullivant from pulling a goal back.
Then, with three minutes to go before the break, something I don't think I have seen before. The game was briefly stopped to allow a player to retrieve a stray umbrella that had been blown onto the field of play. Safely back in the hands of its owner, the game was allowed to continue and there was just enough time left for Athletic to almost make it six when Sean Dyer saw his strike glance the bar before going over for a goal-kick.
HT Finmere 1 Deanshanger Athletic 5. Not exactly one-way traffic, but not too far off. Deanshanger played some lovely passing football on a very difficult surface. The home side had little to offer in exchange.
An already confident Deanshanger side were bolstered by the early goal and set about increasing their lead, something they achieved in the 10th minute. A corner from their right was directed toward the back post where captain Jack Harris rose highest to plant his header into the corner of the net. 0-2 Two became three in the 14th minute, and it was all too easy for the visitors. George Barry burst down the right before pulling the ball back into the path of Ben Stevenson, who gleefully swept the ball past Hayley for 0-3.
Finmere were in real danger of being overrun by their visitors at this point but, to their credit, they did stem the flow a little. Hayley was called into action again to thwart Dan Forbie on 21 minutes but, a further four minutes down the line, Athletic made it four. Once again, the damage was done on the right, Barry again being sent clear. His low cross was aimed at Dan McLaren but the centre-forward couldn't get a clean strike on the ball, which continued on it's path, falling for Dan Forbie, and the winger smashed the ball home. 0-4
It looked like game over, with barely half an hour played. Then, out of nowhere, Finmere got a goal back. It came from Deanshanger making a mess out of playing out from the back. They gifted the ball to Finmere deep inside their own half, which was fed across the box to Louis Cane, who made no mistake with his finish. 1-4.
The goal seemed to rattle the visitors a little, and gave The Fins a boost. Cane, who had already looked like Finemere's most lively player, was that yard faster. Whilst not threatening the away goal too much, they did have a brief period where their own goal wasn't under threat. That was until the 37th minute, when Deanshanger restored their four goal lead. The ball was fed to Dan Forbie on the left. He drove forward, cutting inside and across the face of the penalty area, beat a couple of challenges, before firing low past Hayley's right-hand. 1-5
The response from the home side was almost immediate. Only a good save from Sam Watts prevented Toby Bullivant from pulling a goal back.
Then, with three minutes to go before the break, something I don't think I have seen before. The game was briefly stopped to allow a player to retrieve a stray umbrella that had been blown onto the field of play. Safely back in the hands of its owner, the game was allowed to continue and there was just enough time left for Athletic to almost make it six when Sean Dyer saw his strike glance the bar before going over for a goal-kick.
HT Finmere 1 Deanshanger Athletic 5. Not exactly one-way traffic, but not too far off. Deanshanger played some lovely passing football on a very difficult surface. The home side had little to offer in exchange.
Finmere looking to get back in the game Interestingly, despite the weather, Deanshanger stayed out on the pitch for their half-time talk, whereas Finmere took shelter in the changing room. Maybe the slightly warmer muscles of the home team had the advantage, because they certainly started the second half on the front foot. Only three minutes had passed when they reduced the deficit with a goal from captain Cameron Thomas, a well struck drive from 20 yards that Sam Watts will be disappointed not to have stopped. 2-5
Things were a lot more even in this half. Without a doubt, the home side had increased their intensity and, equally, Deanshanger seemed to have taken their foot off the gas a little. The result was that there were no clear-cut goal chances at either end for the next fifteen minutes or so.
However, this changed in the 65th minute when Athletic substitute, Ben Baker, latched onto a through ball to volley home from 15 yards. A great strike, especially as he was challenged and knocked off balance as he struck the shot. Even so, it flew past Hayley into the top corner. 2-6
Once more, the home side did their best to respond, even though the game was now almost certainly beyond them. They missed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit again with just under 20 minutes to go. Visiting keeper Sam Watts did well to get down to a low strike, pushing it away, but only into the path of Jason Ronald who, with the goal gaping, somehow smashed the ball against the upright from six yards out. A few minutes later, Watts was again called into action, saving well from Cane.
With eight minutes to go, Deanshanger put the icing on the cake. A low, driven, left-wing corner found Ben Baker running in at the near post. His flicked effort somehow squirmed past a sea of legs to go in off the foot of the upright. 2-7
That was the end o the scoring and, as the weather worsened, thankfully the referee drew a close to proceedings.
FT Finmere 2 Deanshanger Athletic 7. A much more even second half. Finmere definitely upped their game in response to the first half performance. However, the damage had already been done. The result lifts Deanshanger up to second spot, but still seven points adrift of Olney at the summit. Finmere remain second from bottom.
Next weekend Finmere make the trip over to Milton Keynes to take on bottom side Bletchley Scot Reserves. The Fins won the reverse fixture 3-2 back in September. Deanshanger make the short journey to Buckingham as they take on sixth placed Buckingham, the first time they have met this season.
Finmere: 13.A.Haley, 12.C.Haley, 14.Thomas(c), 8.West, 6.Ashely, 3.Marshall-Stepens, 4.Anderson, 11.L.Cain, 27.R.Bullivant, 10.Ronald, 15.T.Bullivant. Subs: 7.Bone, 16.J.Cain
Deanhanger Athletic: 1.Watts, 2.Grose, 3.Stallard, 5.Dunning, 5.Harris(c), 15.Dyer, 7.Stevenson, 8.Moore, 9.McLaren, 14.Barry, 11.Forbie. Subs: 12.Fisher, 10.Bonsell, 16.Kissane, 6.Baker
Things were a lot more even in this half. Without a doubt, the home side had increased their intensity and, equally, Deanshanger seemed to have taken their foot off the gas a little. The result was that there were no clear-cut goal chances at either end for the next fifteen minutes or so.
However, this changed in the 65th minute when Athletic substitute, Ben Baker, latched onto a through ball to volley home from 15 yards. A great strike, especially as he was challenged and knocked off balance as he struck the shot. Even so, it flew past Hayley into the top corner. 2-6
Once more, the home side did their best to respond, even though the game was now almost certainly beyond them. They missed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit again with just under 20 minutes to go. Visiting keeper Sam Watts did well to get down to a low strike, pushing it away, but only into the path of Jason Ronald who, with the goal gaping, somehow smashed the ball against the upright from six yards out. A few minutes later, Watts was again called into action, saving well from Cane.
With eight minutes to go, Deanshanger put the icing on the cake. A low, driven, left-wing corner found Ben Baker running in at the near post. His flicked effort somehow squirmed past a sea of legs to go in off the foot of the upright. 2-7
That was the end o the scoring and, as the weather worsened, thankfully the referee drew a close to proceedings.
FT Finmere 2 Deanshanger Athletic 7. A much more even second half. Finmere definitely upped their game in response to the first half performance. However, the damage had already been done. The result lifts Deanshanger up to second spot, but still seven points adrift of Olney at the summit. Finmere remain second from bottom.
Next weekend Finmere make the trip over to Milton Keynes to take on bottom side Bletchley Scot Reserves. The Fins won the reverse fixture 3-2 back in September. Deanshanger make the short journey to Buckingham as they take on sixth placed Buckingham, the first time they have met this season.
Finmere: 13.A.Haley, 12.C.Haley, 14.Thomas(c), 8.West, 6.Ashely, 3.Marshall-Stepens, 4.Anderson, 11.L.Cain, 27.R.Bullivant, 10.Ronald, 15.T.Bullivant. Subs: 7.Bone, 16.J.Cain
Deanhanger Athletic: 1.Watts, 2.Grose, 3.Stallard, 5.Dunning, 5.Harris(c), 15.Dyer, 7.Stevenson, 8.Moore, 9.McLaren, 14.Barry, 11.Forbie. Subs: 12.Fisher, 10.Bonsell, 16.Kissane, 6.Baker
Finmere Playing Field
The Ground
Finmere play their home games at a facility shared with the cricket club, just to the North of the village, situated alongside the village hall. There is a reasonably large car park alongside the village hall building and a small gate that leads in to the football and cricket grounds. The changing rooms and toilet facilities are just to the left of the car park, between the corner flag and one of the goals. This wooden structure has a small covered veranda looking out over the pitch. Perfect for days such as today, when the weather was awful.
The playing surface looked in need of a trim and was a little bumpy in places. There are, of course, no further spectator areas around the pitch.
Ground Number: 425
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Finmere play their home games at a facility shared with the cricket club, just to the North of the village, situated alongside the village hall. There is a reasonably large car park alongside the village hall building and a small gate that leads in to the football and cricket grounds. The changing rooms and toilet facilities are just to the left of the car park, between the corner flag and one of the goals. This wooden structure has a small covered veranda looking out over the pitch. Perfect for days such as today, when the weather was awful.
The playing surface looked in need of a trim and was a little bumpy in places. There are, of course, no further spectator areas around the pitch.
Ground Number: 425
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Scott Moore's free-kick on its way in
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