Despite the recent poor run of form there was an air of optimism around the Buckland Women as they once again took to the road but this time with two new additions to the side: namely, returning central defender Jodie Chubb and a new acquisition in young forward Carmen Morison.
Following a week off, which allowed for some extra training along with an analysis session, Buckland Women took to the M5 as they travelled to Brislington Ladies F.C., a game that would see Manager Vanessa Casey and Head Coach George Hamill shuffle the pack due to the absentee of Leah Brooks, and the new arrivals. This saw Jodie’s inclusion reuniting last season’s centre-back partnership with Alex Sheppard, Jana Richards moving to the left hand side to allow Sarah Smith to be deployed in a more forward left winger role. On the right, Alex Hugh retained her starting position behind Emily Hannaford who was favoured on the right wing, with Gabi Trays, Maria Warman and Captain Courtney Butt completing the midfield. They were all tasked with supplying the ever present Sarah Stacey up front. The team was completed by last week’s Player of the Match Abigail Bond who would be hopeful to continue her good form of recent weeks.
This change of personnel seemed to have worked as early pressure on the Brislington goal yielded a few chances before, on the eighth minute, the ball fell to Hannaford who powerfully struck the ball home from the right hand side of goal. The pressure continued with good penetrating football down both wings. However, on the ninth minute, the home side had a chance to equalise after Bucks conceded a penalty when the referee deemed an aerial challenge unfair. However, it wasn’t to be as in-form Bond wouldn’t be beaten and made an excellent save low down to her right hand side. More chances fell to the away side as their pressure continued and, on the twenty-second minute, Smith hit the crossbar angle from a wide position. Again, in the thirty-fifth minute, Smith narrowly missed out stretching the lead by hitting the inside of the ‘keeper’s left hand post and, only minutes later, Stacey narrowly missed the target from a free-kick just outside the 18 yard box. If truth be known, Buckland should have been out of sight by half time but would have to settle for a 1-0 lead going into the break.
In the second half, the onlooking crowd were surely expecting more of the same and after some stern words at half time about being clinical in front of goal, Buckland were surprised by the Brislington resolve which saw a swing in the pendulum of momentum towards the home side. This pressure, and the building frustration with the Buckland camp, saw, on the fifty-first minute, Alex Sheppard demonstrating the new Sin Bin rule for the first time this season, which enabled the home side to take advantage, in the fifty-second minute, by converting the resulting free-kick, making it one apiece. Shortly after, on the fifty-sixth minute, Gabi Trays made way for Abigail Meyer following an injury sustained early on in the contest which has now been confirmed as a broken toe which may see the midfielder miss out in the coming weeks. Further substitutions, on the sixty-fifth and seventy-seventh minutes, saw Alex Hugh make way for Natalie Warman and Emily Hannaford make way for new signing Carmen Morison respectively. Despite prolonged pressure in the second half, Brislington were unable to break through. However, they looked the more likely to convert until the Buckland Women came back into the game with ten to go and again narrowly missed a couple of good chances. With no further incidents to report, the game ended with the spoils being shared.
A much improved performance on previous weeks and with tougher tests to come, the gelling and refocus continues along with a much-needed composure in the final third.
Next up for the Buckland Women is a home tie against Swindon Town this coming Saturday.
