Fan power ensures Buckland get their fixture played
AN ARMY of volunteers ensured that Buckland Athletic played their latest fixture on Saturday against Cadbury Heath in the Toolstation Western League.
A group of 10 diehard supporters spent approximately seven hours working on the pitch using absorbent rollers and forks to remove the remaining water on Homers Heath and came out the only fixture played in the whole of the Western League Premier Division and Division One.
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Both manager Antony Lynch and his squad were amazed this fixture was given the thumbs up from the match referee but appreciate the hard work put in by the team of volunteers massively.
However it was visitors Cadbury Heath who got the game off to the best start when they took the lead with only three minutes on the clock.
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Sacha Tong for Heath carried the ball down the left hand flank before cutting inside and chipping the ball to fellow striker, Matt Huxley.
Huxley leapt up unmarked and headed past Kenny Griffiths in goal for Buckland.
Buckland then fired up their spirits and hit every attack they could towards Heath number one, Simon Crawford. Pulling off good saves from Si Revell and Chris Wright's attempts, Crawford kept his side in the game and consequently went into the half time break with a 1-0 lead.
Words of wisdom at half time by the Buckland management clearly made an impact. With only 36 seconds of the second half played Buckland made the score level through Gavin Hammon. Dean Stevens made a fierce run down the left hand side before his shot was parried away by Crawford in goal for Cadbury Heath. The ball then came back out to the feet of Hammon who slotted underneath the keeper from close range to make the score 1-1.
Buckland then dominated the game and deservedly took the lead 61st minute. Gavin Hammon (pictured above) sprinted into the box, seeing the keeper slightly off his line and to the right of his goal, and curled the ball around the pack of Cadbury Heath players in the penalty area and into the left side of the net.
This was Hammon's 24th league and cup goal in as many appearances and takes him to the top of the Western League goal standings.
Buckland's lead soon vanished as two minutes later Sacha Tong scored for the visiting side.
Collecting possession just inside their own half Tong ran up the right hand side of the pitch with Buckland's Karl Green chasing after him.
The Heath number nine continued his run into the box and shot low and hard past Griffiths, Ben Head was stood on the line for Buckland but was unable to clear the ball off the line and the scores became level once more.
Both sides pressured for the win and more fine saves from Crawford denied Buckland of a victory.
Antony Lynch's side were hoping to be travelling to 'locals' Willand on Tuesday, but the pitch at Silver Street was already under an inch of snow before the further flurries this week.
Buckland are on the road again on Saturday, taking on their furthest trip of the season, 124 miles from Homers Heath to play Melksham Town (3pm).
Town currently sit in 12th position (two places below Buckland) after collecting 25 points from 17 games.
Lynch has a full squad to select from, now including Jamie Micklewright as his transfer has now been completed.
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