After a midweek visit to Enstone, BotP was back on the road on Saturday as some leagues began the season in earnest. One of those starting quite early was the Spartan South Midlands League, which gave an excellent opportunity to nip just down the road to Buckingham for their opener against Letchworth Garden City Eagles. Although I have been to Stratford Fields many times over the years, this would be the fist visit since the Buckingham teams consolidated into a single club under the banner of "One club for the town".
It also gave me a first ever chance to see The Eagles in action. A glance back at the history of the fixture showed that it was Letchworth who had had much the better of the meetings, winning five and losing one of the last six. In fact, Buckingham had not won any until the last meeting at Stratford Fields when they won 4-2, despite having a player dismissed. Interestingly, the reverse fixture, which ended 2-0 to Eagles, had seen them have a player sent-off too. Letchworth had also outscored their hosts by 13 to 7 over those six games. Still, this was a new season and the slate was effectively wiped clean.
It also gave me a first ever chance to see The Eagles in action. A glance back at the history of the fixture showed that it was Letchworth who had had much the better of the meetings, winning five and losing one of the last six. In fact, Buckingham had not won any until the last meeting at Stratford Fields when they won 4-2, despite having a player dismissed. Interestingly, the reverse fixture, which ended 2-0 to Eagles, had seen them have a player sent-off too. Letchworth had also outscored their hosts by 13 to 7 over those six games. Still, this was a new season and the slate was effectively wiped clean.
Culley with a free kick As if to prove this point, Buckingham started much the stronger of the two teams, aided considerably by Letchworth's inability to retain possession. Time and again, they gave the ball away within seconds of getting it back. You don't want to be constantly chasing the ball on the opening day of the season when match fitness has not yet been fully gained.
However, despite having the lion's hare of the ball, Buckingham did not really test Adam Seymour, in the Eagles goal, until the 13th minute and even then the on target effort was comfortable for the stopper. The game was then delayed for a good 4-5 minutes after the home number 9 (sorry for lack of names, I wasn't able to get a home team sheet) went down under a challenge. There was nothing malicious in the incident but the Swans striker did look in some discomfort. He was eventually able to limp off, to be replaced by Wesley Iroegbu. The newly introduced player then almost made an immediate impact when a 24th minute corner from the right was flicked on at the near post. Ireogbu met it on the volley only to see his effort crash back off the bar.
A minute later Letchworth's Will Blair had their first good effort when a freekick from 25 yards had Jamie Adim scrambling across his goal, happy to see the effort drift wide.
On the half hour Jamie Culley's dipping drive forced Seymour to tip the ball over his bar. The visitors cleared the resulting corner and launched a break of their own, culminating in Max Smith's volley being safely gathered by Admin. Although the effort didn't trouble the keeper it was, at least, a shot on target for the Eagles and a sign that they were starting to get a foothold. However, they had their own keeper to thank a few minutes later when Culley struck a freekick into the defensive wall. The ball rebounded to the Swans player who drilled a low shot through a group of players only for Seymour to make a good block with his legs.
As we moved into added time of a half that the home side had dominated in terms of possession, Letchworth came close to snatching a lead against the run of play. From defence to attack in the blink of an eye, a long ball out found Blair on the left flank and the home defence, for once, completely out of position. Blair fed the ball inside to the unmarked Luke Baranowski who looked odds on to score until Adim flew off his line and brilliantly smothered the attempt. Excellent goalkeeping to keep the scores level.
HT Buckingham 0 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. A dominant half for the home side but no goals to show for it. They were all so nearly caught out in the last seconds of the half and have their keeper to thanks for being level. Aside from that, the home defence has looked way to organised for the visitors to trouble them, marshalled expertly by Nathan Hawkins.
However, despite having the lion's hare of the ball, Buckingham did not really test Adam Seymour, in the Eagles goal, until the 13th minute and even then the on target effort was comfortable for the stopper. The game was then delayed for a good 4-5 minutes after the home number 9 (sorry for lack of names, I wasn't able to get a home team sheet) went down under a challenge. There was nothing malicious in the incident but the Swans striker did look in some discomfort. He was eventually able to limp off, to be replaced by Wesley Iroegbu. The newly introduced player then almost made an immediate impact when a 24th minute corner from the right was flicked on at the near post. Ireogbu met it on the volley only to see his effort crash back off the bar.
A minute later Letchworth's Will Blair had their first good effort when a freekick from 25 yards had Jamie Adim scrambling across his goal, happy to see the effort drift wide.
On the half hour Jamie Culley's dipping drive forced Seymour to tip the ball over his bar. The visitors cleared the resulting corner and launched a break of their own, culminating in Max Smith's volley being safely gathered by Admin. Although the effort didn't trouble the keeper it was, at least, a shot on target for the Eagles and a sign that they were starting to get a foothold. However, they had their own keeper to thank a few minutes later when Culley struck a freekick into the defensive wall. The ball rebounded to the Swans player who drilled a low shot through a group of players only for Seymour to make a good block with his legs.
As we moved into added time of a half that the home side had dominated in terms of possession, Letchworth came close to snatching a lead against the run of play. From defence to attack in the blink of an eye, a long ball out found Blair on the left flank and the home defence, for once, completely out of position. Blair fed the ball inside to the unmarked Luke Baranowski who looked odds on to score until Adim flew off his line and brilliantly smothered the attempt. Excellent goalkeeping to keep the scores level.
HT Buckingham 0 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. A dominant half for the home side but no goals to show for it. They were all so nearly caught out in the last seconds of the half and have their keeper to thanks for being level. Aside from that, the home defence has looked way to organised for the visitors to trouble them, marshalled expertly by Nathan Hawkins.
Clarkson's late penalty Presumably the Buckingham coaching team would have expressed the need for them to take advantage of their possession advantage during the break, and it didn't take long for the hosts to finally take the lead. However, their goal, when it arrived, came completely out of the blue. The Buckingham defence were being tested themselves, but once again came up trumps and cleared their lines. The response was like lightning. Before the visitors could blink a long ball had bypassed their defence and Dalitso Chibwe was wheeling away in triumph after sending the ball past Adam Seymour. 1-0
Letchworth responded well to the setback, immediately pushing Buckingham back into their own half. A few minutes later Albie Battle got ahead of the home keeper to meet a corner with his head but couldn't direct his effort on target. Two minutes later Baranowski was presented with a free header at the far post but couldn't hit the target.
Maybe if one of those chances had been taken, the result could have been different but, as it was, the Eagles soon found themselves two down, and what a goal it was.
Buckingham had a goal kick which was played short to Hawkins on the left, he carried the ball across the box and played a diagonal pass to Tysan Aluko. His Crossfield ball to Wes Britnell, making a break inside the Eagles half, was inch perfect. Britnell laid the ball off first time into the path of Jamie Culley, bursting into the penalty area on the left, and his precision finish beat Seymour, going in off the far post. Four passes and one shot, from goalkeeper to the back of the net. Beautiful goal. 2-0
It was pretty much game over at this point. Letchworth, maybe having an off day, just didn't seem to have anything in them to trouble the home defence, certainly not enough to score twice. In fact, just past the hour mark, it was the home team who almost added to their tally. Substitute Iroegbu muscled his way through a couple of challenges. However, Seymour was off his line quickly and bravely to make the block, getting a knock for his troubles.
The game was then petering out into a comfortable 2-0 win for the hosts, until the 93rd minute when a clumsy challenge saw the referee point to the spot. Penalty to Buckingham, despite many protest from the visitors. I was at the other end, so I'm not entirely sure if they were protesting that it wasn't a foul or if the incident was outside the box. Whatever the case, the referee pointed to the spot and Jack Clarkson calmly sent Seymour the wrong way to round off the scoring. 3-0
FT Buckingham 3 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. A comfortable opening day victory for Buckingham. Eagles Manager, Mark Nunn, said afterwards that they just weren't at the races and they were out battled. I couldn't agree more. Having said that, if Letchworth had snatched that late goal in the first half, who knows? Buckingham's defence looked very impressive. The entire back four looked solid, well organised and capable of playing out from the back, as the second goal demonstrated. There of the four players in the build up were defenders.
Next Saturday Buckingham travel to Royston Town Reserves, who lost their opener 2-1 at Moulton.
Meanwhile, Letchworth have their first home fixture as they welcome Rothwell Corinthians, who won 3-0 at Colney Heath this weekend.
Buckingham: Adim, Aluko, Atkinson, Britnell, Chibwe, Clarkson(c), Clayson, Culley, Hawkins, Karim, Masad. Subs: Doyle, Howarth, Iroegbu, Lloyd-Roberts
Letchworth Garden City Eagles: Seymour, Bell, Jennings, Christie, Battle, Humphryes, Smith, Charles(c), Baranowski, Blair, Zekri. Subs: Waldock, Isles, Marvell, Kelly, Ali
Letchworth responded well to the setback, immediately pushing Buckingham back into their own half. A few minutes later Albie Battle got ahead of the home keeper to meet a corner with his head but couldn't direct his effort on target. Two minutes later Baranowski was presented with a free header at the far post but couldn't hit the target.
Maybe if one of those chances had been taken, the result could have been different but, as it was, the Eagles soon found themselves two down, and what a goal it was.
Buckingham had a goal kick which was played short to Hawkins on the left, he carried the ball across the box and played a diagonal pass to Tysan Aluko. His Crossfield ball to Wes Britnell, making a break inside the Eagles half, was inch perfect. Britnell laid the ball off first time into the path of Jamie Culley, bursting into the penalty area on the left, and his precision finish beat Seymour, going in off the far post. Four passes and one shot, from goalkeeper to the back of the net. Beautiful goal. 2-0
It was pretty much game over at this point. Letchworth, maybe having an off day, just didn't seem to have anything in them to trouble the home defence, certainly not enough to score twice. In fact, just past the hour mark, it was the home team who almost added to their tally. Substitute Iroegbu muscled his way through a couple of challenges. However, Seymour was off his line quickly and bravely to make the block, getting a knock for his troubles.
The game was then petering out into a comfortable 2-0 win for the hosts, until the 93rd minute when a clumsy challenge saw the referee point to the spot. Penalty to Buckingham, despite many protest from the visitors. I was at the other end, so I'm not entirely sure if they were protesting that it wasn't a foul or if the incident was outside the box. Whatever the case, the referee pointed to the spot and Jack Clarkson calmly sent Seymour the wrong way to round off the scoring. 3-0
FT Buckingham 3 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. A comfortable opening day victory for Buckingham. Eagles Manager, Mark Nunn, said afterwards that they just weren't at the races and they were out battled. I couldn't agree more. Having said that, if Letchworth had snatched that late goal in the first half, who knows? Buckingham's defence looked very impressive. The entire back four looked solid, well organised and capable of playing out from the back, as the second goal demonstrated. There of the four players in the build up were defenders.
Next Saturday Buckingham travel to Royston Town Reserves, who lost their opener 2-1 at Moulton.
Meanwhile, Letchworth have their first home fixture as they welcome Rothwell Corinthians, who won 3-0 at Colney Heath this weekend.
Buckingham: Adim, Aluko, Atkinson, Britnell, Chibwe, Clarkson(c), Clayson, Culley, Hawkins, Karim, Masad. Subs: Doyle, Howarth, Iroegbu, Lloyd-Roberts
Letchworth Garden City Eagles: Seymour, Bell, Jennings, Christie, Battle, Humphryes, Smith, Charles(c), Baranowski, Blair, Zekri. Subs: Waldock, Isles, Marvell, Kelly, Ali
Stratford Fields
The Programme
Buckingham put out an excellent programme both online and printed. A whopping 28 pages, printed on thick paper and full colour throughout. Articles include a club history page and roll of hounour, visitors information, squad lists, league table (all zeros at this stage), stats from last season, a complete fixture list, coming next including fixtures for all teams, and plenty of adverts for local businesses. An excellent effort from the club. My only criticism (and this is not directly related to the programme) is that the team sheets are not displayed anywhere around the stadium.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 102
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: Included
Buckingham put out an excellent programme both online and printed. A whopping 28 pages, printed on thick paper and full colour throughout. Articles include a club history page and roll of hounour, visitors information, squad lists, league table (all zeros at this stage), stats from last season, a complete fixture list, coming next including fixtures for all teams, and plenty of adverts for local businesses. An excellent effort from the club. My only criticism (and this is not directly related to the programme) is that the team sheets are not displayed anywhere around the stadium.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 102
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: Included
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