A last minute change of plan on Wednesday saw me making the relatively short trip into Northamptonshire for a third visit to Station Road, Long Buckby. This evening's game was a Spartan South Midlands Division One clash with title-chasing Desborough Town coming to town. Prior to kick-off, Desborough sat in second spot, five points adrift of AFC Welwyn but with two games in hand. Long Buckby were in 13th, out of reach of the top but well clear of danger. The reverse fixture at Waterworks Fields was only played two weeks previously. On that evening four second half goals had seen Desborough take all three points with a 4-0 victory. Another victory this evening would keep their destiny firmly in their own hands, with a visit to Herns Way to come on April 12th.
The title race could well go to the wire, although looking at the fixtures, Welwyn do appear to have a slightly easier run-in on paper. That game at Welwyn could well be the decider.
Not a great deal seems to have changed at Station Road since my last visit in 2019. It's still a friendly ground to visit, from the guy on the gate to the people behind the counter in the snack bar. All seem genuinely pleased to welcome visitors to the ground, and there were certainly a few from Desborough this evening, as well as a number of ground-hoppers. One fantastic addition at the ground is the whiteboard showing the team sheets. This is so much easier than trying to flag down anyone who looks official and asking if they have the teams sheets, something I don't like doing on match days. Most club officials have more than enough to do before a game.
The title race could well go to the wire, although looking at the fixtures, Welwyn do appear to have a slightly easier run-in on paper. That game at Welwyn could well be the decider.
Not a great deal seems to have changed at Station Road since my last visit in 2019. It's still a friendly ground to visit, from the guy on the gate to the people behind the counter in the snack bar. All seem genuinely pleased to welcome visitors to the ground, and there were certainly a few from Desborough this evening, as well as a number of ground-hoppers. One fantastic addition at the ground is the whiteboard showing the team sheets. This is so much easier than trying to flag down anyone who looks official and asking if they have the teams sheets, something I don't like doing on match days. Most club officials have more than enough to do before a game.
Desborough attacking Kicking up the slope towards the Watson Road end, Desborough got off to a dream start. With only just over a minute on the clock, Josh Drain did well on the right, driving to the by-line before sending over a cross that found Faruq Usman with enough time to take a touch before drilling the ball home from 8 yards. 0-1
The confidence was flowing throughout the ranks of the visitors, and they set about trying to increase their lead, aided by a home side who were struggling to find any rhythm. However, despite having plenty of the ball, Desborough failed to add to their tally. Usman headed another right-wing cross over when he probably should have hit the target and Kye Little was unlucky to see his powerful header, from an Aidan Bradshaw cross, flash narrowly wide of Sean Wilson's left-hand post.
The chances were all at one end of the pitch, but Town still needed to be aware of the potential for Long Buckby to hurt them. Just before the half-hour mark, that almost happened when Cooke, pushing up from left wing-back, unleashed an effort that whistled just past Adam Honour's left upright. A reminder that one goal may well not be enough for Desborough.
Pace and trickery on both flanks for Desborough, Usman on the left and Drain on the right, were constant causes for Long Buckby concern. After 34 minutes, Drain once again beat his man, shrugging off a challenge before cutting the ball back for Little to strike first time. Just over the bar.
Bucks then had their best period of pressure, forcing a series of corners, one of which almost saw them equalise when Dan Carter's goal-bound strike was blocked almost on the line. A minute later Sam Jackson, who was becoming increasingly influential on the right, struck a drive that had Honour worries, only for the ball to fly just wide.
Straight up the other end, Usman found a yard or two to get a vicious left-foot strike off that whistled over the bar. Then, just as it looked like a single goal would separate the sides at half-time, Desborough top scorer Iain Blaikie, showed just why he has over 20 goals this season. Having been kept quiet for most of the half, he received the ball on the right-hand edge of the penalty area, back to goal. A sharp half-turn and a delightfully shaped left-foot strike left Wilson motionless as the ball curled into the far corner of the net. 0-2. The home keeper was annoyed but, in all fairness, there was nothing he could have done. That was precision finishing.
HT Long Buckby 0 Desborough Town 2. At 0-1 it was still anyone's game. Desborough had dominated possession but were always under threat from a Long Buckby side who had showed intent at times. The late second goal, however, put an entirely different slant on the game.
The confidence was flowing throughout the ranks of the visitors, and they set about trying to increase their lead, aided by a home side who were struggling to find any rhythm. However, despite having plenty of the ball, Desborough failed to add to their tally. Usman headed another right-wing cross over when he probably should have hit the target and Kye Little was unlucky to see his powerful header, from an Aidan Bradshaw cross, flash narrowly wide of Sean Wilson's left-hand post.
The chances were all at one end of the pitch, but Town still needed to be aware of the potential for Long Buckby to hurt them. Just before the half-hour mark, that almost happened when Cooke, pushing up from left wing-back, unleashed an effort that whistled just past Adam Honour's left upright. A reminder that one goal may well not be enough for Desborough.
Pace and trickery on both flanks for Desborough, Usman on the left and Drain on the right, were constant causes for Long Buckby concern. After 34 minutes, Drain once again beat his man, shrugging off a challenge before cutting the ball back for Little to strike first time. Just over the bar.
Bucks then had their best period of pressure, forcing a series of corners, one of which almost saw them equalise when Dan Carter's goal-bound strike was blocked almost on the line. A minute later Sam Jackson, who was becoming increasingly influential on the right, struck a drive that had Honour worries, only for the ball to fly just wide.
Straight up the other end, Usman found a yard or two to get a vicious left-foot strike off that whistled over the bar. Then, just as it looked like a single goal would separate the sides at half-time, Desborough top scorer Iain Blaikie, showed just why he has over 20 goals this season. Having been kept quiet for most of the half, he received the ball on the right-hand edge of the penalty area, back to goal. A sharp half-turn and a delightfully shaped left-foot strike left Wilson motionless as the ball curled into the far corner of the net. 0-2. The home keeper was annoyed but, in all fairness, there was nothing he could have done. That was precision finishing.
HT Long Buckby 0 Desborough Town 2. At 0-1 it was still anyone's game. Desborough had dominated possession but were always under threat from a Long Buckby side who had showed intent at times. The late second goal, however, put an entirely different slant on the game.
Carter heads clear As if the late goal in the first half wasn't enough, Desborough added a third with their first attack of the second period. Josh Drain, fed in on the right-hand side of the box, struck a low drive across Wilson and in off the far post. 0-3. The points looked to be in the bag and Desborough noticeably took their foot off the pedal, almost immediately, much to the dismay of their bench.
Twice Long Buckby slipped balls into the Desborough box which were inches too far ahead of D'lanie James. They were warnings that the visitors didn't heed.
Just past the hour, a sloppy clearance fell to a Buckby player in midfield. With the defence out of position, the ball was fed to Jackson inside the right-hand side of the box. His powerful strike hit the side-netting from a narrow angle. Another warning for Desborough.
Possesion-wise the game had swung into the favour of the home team now, although Josh Drain almost punished them further after 70 minutes when his angled strike hit the inside of the post before flying across the box to safety. That attempt was followed immediately by a huge chance for Long Buckby to get back into it. James was sent free of the defence but, with Honour quickly out to narrow the angle, the striker slid his shot wide of the mark.
Eleven minutes later, as we entered that last 10 minutes, The Bucks did finally spoil Honour's clean sheet and, to be fair, it was no more than they deserved in the second half. The threat came from the right and when the ball was played into the box Jackson chested it down into the path of D'lanie James, who hammered it past Honour. 1-3.
The home side were scenting blood now, but time was against them. It was strange how the game had changed so much. Anyone arriving at the game now would think that Long Buckby were the team 3-1 up, rather than Desborough. However, the visitors defence held firm. That was until deep into added time when some good work out on the left saw the ball played across the six-yard box to the unmarked James, who had the simple ask of tapping home for 2-3.
If that second goal had come five minutes earlier, Desborough could have been in trouble, so much had the game swung. However, there was barely time for the restart before the referee drew a close to proceedings.
FT Long Buckby 2 Desborough Town 3. At 3-0 up, Desborough were cruising and could easily have been further ahead. However, they sat back which gave the home side the confidence to have a real go in the second half. It was a spirited display from The Bucks that only just fell short of rescuing a point. That said, job done for Desborough. At this stage of the season, it's all about the result and they would be more than happy to take three points from this one. Desborough move to within two points of the leaders and still have a game in hand.
Long Buckby can still have a say in the title race, as they travel to leaders AFC Welwyn on Saturday. Welwyn won 2-1 at Station Road on the opening day of the season. Desborough, meanwhile, are at home to Stotfold Reserves who they beat 4-1 at New Roker Park earlier in the season.
Long Buckby: Wilson, Jackson, J.Cooke, Carter, Thompson, J.Cooke, James, Merrill, Blythe, Reeve(c), Shaw. Subs: Mullen, Barby, Weekes, Hanley, Birchenall
Desborough Town: Honour, Bradshaw, Anderson, Boath, Randall(c), Stratford, Drain, Kennedy, Blaikie, Little, Usman. Subs: Shepherd, Magee, Cassidy, Cawkill-Robins, Ledgeway
Twice Long Buckby slipped balls into the Desborough box which were inches too far ahead of D'lanie James. They were warnings that the visitors didn't heed.
Just past the hour, a sloppy clearance fell to a Buckby player in midfield. With the defence out of position, the ball was fed to Jackson inside the right-hand side of the box. His powerful strike hit the side-netting from a narrow angle. Another warning for Desborough.
Possesion-wise the game had swung into the favour of the home team now, although Josh Drain almost punished them further after 70 minutes when his angled strike hit the inside of the post before flying across the box to safety. That attempt was followed immediately by a huge chance for Long Buckby to get back into it. James was sent free of the defence but, with Honour quickly out to narrow the angle, the striker slid his shot wide of the mark.
Eleven minutes later, as we entered that last 10 minutes, The Bucks did finally spoil Honour's clean sheet and, to be fair, it was no more than they deserved in the second half. The threat came from the right and when the ball was played into the box Jackson chested it down into the path of D'lanie James, who hammered it past Honour. 1-3.
The home side were scenting blood now, but time was against them. It was strange how the game had changed so much. Anyone arriving at the game now would think that Long Buckby were the team 3-1 up, rather than Desborough. However, the visitors defence held firm. That was until deep into added time when some good work out on the left saw the ball played across the six-yard box to the unmarked James, who had the simple ask of tapping home for 2-3.
If that second goal had come five minutes earlier, Desborough could have been in trouble, so much had the game swung. However, there was barely time for the restart before the referee drew a close to proceedings.
FT Long Buckby 2 Desborough Town 3. At 3-0 up, Desborough were cruising and could easily have been further ahead. However, they sat back which gave the home side the confidence to have a real go in the second half. It was a spirited display from The Bucks that only just fell short of rescuing a point. That said, job done for Desborough. At this stage of the season, it's all about the result and they would be more than happy to take three points from this one. Desborough move to within two points of the leaders and still have a game in hand.
Long Buckby can still have a say in the title race, as they travel to leaders AFC Welwyn on Saturday. Welwyn won 2-1 at Station Road on the opening day of the season. Desborough, meanwhile, are at home to Stotfold Reserves who they beat 4-1 at New Roker Park earlier in the season.
Long Buckby: Wilson, Jackson, J.Cooke, Carter, Thompson, J.Cooke, James, Merrill, Blythe, Reeve(c), Shaw. Subs: Mullen, Barby, Weekes, Hanley, Birchenall
Desborough Town: Honour, Bradshaw, Anderson, Boath, Randall(c), Stratford, Drain, Kennedy, Blaikie, Little, Usman. Subs: Shepherd, Magee, Cassidy, Cawkill-Robins, Ledgeway
Team sheets.
The Programme
Each time I have visited Long Buckby they have had a programme available. The 2024/25 programme is a 16-page, colour magazine priced at £1.00. Features include a club honours list, club history, visitors history, league table and results, plus a rather nice detailed stats view of the last two games. There is, of course, also a list of the evening's squads and match officials.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Each time I have visited Long Buckby they have had a programme available. The 2024/25 programme is a 16-page, colour magazine priced at £1.00. Features include a club honours list, club history, visitors history, league table and results, plus a rather nice detailed stats view of the last two games. There is, of course, also a list of the evening's squads and match officials.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
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