Match report contributed by Buckland Athletic WFC

This was a season opener that was well worth the extended wait, as Buckland delivered a memorable performance to see off an extremely talented and well drilled Southampton side.

The match got off to a cagey start, as both sides battled for supremacy, before Mollie Taylor, on her competitive debut after making the summer switch from Plymouth Argyle, made a typically solid block. From the resulting counter attack, fellow summer signing Meg Wood delivered a fine cross which was headed agonisingly over the bar by Sarah Stacey.

This was the start of a solid spell for the Yellows, with Natalie Warman looking especially dangerous on the right wing, first having a cross blocked then just failing to get on the end of a searching ball in behind the Reds’ back three from newly appointed vice captain Leah Brooks. Alex Sheppard was imperious throughout, cutting out numerous breaks. The game was a physical encounter , with the referee being a very busy man throughout.

One free kick, delivered with the usual aplomb by Alex Hugh, just wouldn’t quite drop for Courtney Butt, Wood or Stacey as all had efforts blocked. Tempers soon flared on the touch line, as Southampton’s dugout felt aggrieved as a late challenge on Abbi Bond in the Buckland goal was met with a yellow card for their striker. However, on 29 minutes, frustration became elation on the sidelines, but this time in the home dugout, as Warman collected the ball on the right and delivered a fierce low drive into the bottom left corner to give Buckland a deserved lead.

Southampton reacted to the setback, pressing high and carving out chances, mostly from set pieces, one free kick which was plucked from the air by skipper Bond. The away side looked to rile the home team up, with clever fouls and a high press, which eventually took its toll, as fellow summer recruit from Argyle, Zoe Cunningham, was sin binned rather harshly by the man in the middle for answering back to a decision. Then, Bond proved why she won Players’ Player of the Year by pulling off a simply unbelievable save to keep the score at 1-0.

Summer signing Wood, who swapped Somerset for Devon over the summer, joining from newly named Yeovil United, was then hauled down as she broke free, earning Southampton’s captain a yellow card.

Half time Buckland 1-0 Southampton Women

Head coach Jamie Phillip made a personnel change at the break, with Maria Warman replacing Alex Hugh in the back line. The Yellows started fast, with Brooks breaking through and placing a shot just past the right hand upright. Stacey then fired a looping volley which dipped agonisingly on to the roof of the net, before the lively N.Warman pressed well, forcing a chance from a Red goal kick.

Southampton started to grow into the half, forcing a string of corners, one of which saw a volley skied over the bar. Bucks hit back, first with Brooks being caught offside as she attempted to burst through from midfield, before good interplay between Stacey and Warman saw the latter have a pass through to Wood cut out with a last ditch block. Bond pulled off two more fine saves from a string of corners, before Warman played another ball through to Wood, but she could only force a save from the ‘keeper.

Wood then hit a speculative volley from a good 30 yards out, but the ‘keeper pulled off a stupendous diving save to deny what would have certainly been a Goal of the Season contender. Buckland were getting a lot of success from pressing high, as they created chance after chance from intercepting as their opponents looked to play out from the back. A second change was made, as Bucks’ fourth debutant of the day, Hana Bennett came on for Stacey, another tactical shift, but it gave them a valuable burst of energy, as Southampton started to rally.

Wood gave away a tactical foul, earning herself a yellow card in the process. Natalie Warman was replaced by Carmen Morison late on after an excellent shift out wide. Morison’s energy and movement caused problems for the tired back three, before Bennett capped off a fine day with a debut goal, a cool, calm and composed finish when one on one with the ‘keeper.

As the full time whistle sounded, the joy was clear to behold on the Yellow faces, the perfect start to possibly the strangest season any of us will ever see!

Full time Buckland 2- 0 Southampton Women