Buckland Athletic look to finally get their league season underway on Sunday at home to Middlezoy Rovers. Middlezoy lead the table after wins at home to Yeovil and away at Downend Flyers.
Category: News
Buckland Hit Nine to Send Exeter Out of FA Cup
Happy Days: Kirsty Caunter (centre) celebrates with Buckland team-mates Jodie Chubb (left) and Laura Gough following one of her three goals at Homers Heath on Sunday. (c)MiraclePR.com. More pictures available to browse/buy on the Buckland LFC gallery.
The first of many derbies for Buckland Athletic LFC this season saw Grant Fisher’s side host Exeter City LFC in the First Round Qualifying stage of the SSE FA Women’s Cup.
The last time the sides met was in last season’s SWH Devon Senior Cup with Buckland’s Hayley Chamberlain scoring the only goal to put Bucks through, Buckland going on to also knock out Plymouth Argyle en route to lifting the cup.
Exeter have since been relegated and Buckland promoted, with both sides now playing in the SWWFL Premier Division – along with Torquay United. Having also drawn Argyle at home in this season’s Senior Cup, Buckland are looking forward to some good crowds this season.
Around 100 turned out on Sunday afternoon for what many might have expected to be a close game. It turned out to be anything but as Buckland’s front line tore Exeter’s defence apart time and time again to rack up a 9-2 victory.
Exeter actually started the game brightly with two good chances in the first five minutes, the first fizzing wide of the right-hand post and the second missing the left-hand upright after Abbi Bond had rushed out to charge down a dangerous attack.
Two goals in three minutes for Buckland settled the nerves though. Laura Gough played the ball in from the right for strike partner Kirsty Caunter to tap in after five minutes. Then, a great move up the right-hand side, orchestrated by Jodie Chubb, ended in a corner on the left. The ball was worked back to captain Hayley Chamberlain who placed a superb strike high into the net out of the reach of Exeter Goalkeeper Shannon Watts. Buckland then turned up the pressure and threatened a third before Exeter broke away and won a corner at the other end.
The respite didn’t last long though. On 15 minutes, Gough burst past her marker on the right before cutting the ball back from the byline for Caunter again who doubled up. From the restart, Gough forced another smart save from Watts as the home side looked to press home their advantage.
Exeter had a chance to narrow the gap as they found space on the right on 23 minutes but there was no one in the box and the delivery went harmlessly out. Five minutes later, Gough’s acrobatic overhead kick was well-executed but just at the right height for Watts who gathered gratefully.
Exeter had a couple of decent chances before half-time, both of them falling to Dani Skinner who hit the first narrowly over and then missed her kick as a cross from the right saw her with a clear sight on goal.
HT: Buckland Athletic LFC 3 – 0 Exeter City LFC
It didn’t take Buckland long to extend their lead after the break, Caunter glancing a header past the goalkeeper from a right-hand cross for her hat-trick. Buckland then gave possession away which culminated in a lobbed goal for Exeter. Both sides traded chances but Buckland always looked the most likely to score again, Amber Coates forcing two saves before Gough slotted home her first of the afternoon.
Chamberlain left the field to a deserved cheer and her replacement Emily Hannaford was next on the score-sheet with a composed finish from the left-hand side of the box. As the Exeter rearguard capitulated, Gough smelled blood and swiftly completed her hat-trick, outpacing her marker for Buckland’s seventh and finishing off a superb ball in from Natalie Warman for number eight. Hannaford chested the ball against the bar before Exeter scored their second, a textbook direct free-kick into the right-hand corner. Substitute Abigail Meyer completed the rout, smashing home as she surged free on the right-hand side and Caunter almost made it double figures, placing the ball home after good work by Sarah Louise Stacey but the referee ruling the goal out.
With a bye in the next round, Buckland will go straight into the Third Qualifying Round. Their next game will be their league opener away at Bishops Lydeard on Sunday.
Sunday 10th September: FA Women’s Cup – Buckland Athletic LFC 9 – 2 Exeter City LFC
Hat-trick Heroine: Laura Gough scores three at Homers Heath. (c) MiraclePR.com
Buckland Athletic LFC start their season with a bang by sweeping Exeter City LFC aside 9-2 in the FA Women’s Cup. Full match report and more pictures coming soon…
Bristol Bring Super League Talent to Homers Heath
Main Image: Buckland’s Jodie Chubb races to intercept Bristol’s Ellie Strippel (c)MiraclePR. To view/purchase pictures from the game please visit the match gallery.
Losing a football match is never a pleasant experience but when defeat comes against one of the top ten football clubs in the country, the learning experience is a huge consolation – not to mention the chance to share the pitch with some of the country’s brightest prospects.
Bristol City WFC kick off their Women’s Super League winter season campaign away at Chelsea LFC on the 24th September. Their squad will contain a number of England Youth players including goalkeeper Caitlin Leech; defenders Ellie Wilson and Jasmine Matthews, midfielders Flo Allen, Jodie Brett and Megan Alexander and striker Millie Farrow.
Defender Corinne Yorston has a handful of England senior caps to her name while seasoned international defender Frankie Brown and fellow Scot Chloe Arthur competed for Scotland in last month’s 6-0 defeat at the hands of England. Loren Dykes, another Vixens defender, has pulled on the Welsh shirt over 50 times while midfielders Hayley Ladd and Georgia Evans are also part of the current Welsh squad.
So it was a real treat for local football fans when Bristol City WFC brought a combined college/development squad down to Homers Heath last Sunday for their first pre-season game.
Buckland started positively but the first chance went the visitors’ way, Chloe Gilroy heading wide of Abbi Bond’s goal, Bond pulling on her gloves for the first time since being sidelined with a broken ankle.
Moments later, the Buckland defence received the first signs that they were in for a difficult afternoon when England Under-17 forward Lauren Hemp got behind the full-back and sent a dangerous low ball into the box, Gilroy again wide of the mark.
Buckland then fashioned their first real attempt when the industrious Laura Gough latched on to a Bristol back-header before rifling her shot past the near post. Buckland were on the back foot again soon after as Bristol attacked with intent, Gilroy and Holly Chandler both seeing shots blocked by the Yellows defence.
Buckland then had their best spell of the half. First, a superb ball from stand-in captain Hayley Chamberlain put Gough and Abigail Meyer through, the latter shooting wide. Soon after, Kirsty Caunter put Gough through once more only for her shot to miss the target again. In between those efforts, Bristol had a penalty appeal waved away after one of their players went down on the edge of the box.
With Bristol looking dangerous with every attack, it was no surprise when they scored the opener, Courtney Murphy’s low ball across the box converted by Hemp. To their credit, Buckland immediately responded, Natalie Warman sending in a cross from the left that Gough only just failed to connect with. But it was Bristol who found the net again soon after, tall centre-back Amy Goddard coming up for a corner and heading past Bond.
Grant Fisher introduced Helen Kukor up front, Caunter making way, and Kukor was immediately into the action, combining well with Chamberlain and Gough, but Bristol defending well. Warman also won a free-kick on the left-hand side as her attempted cross was cut out by a Bristol arm but the Bristol goalkeeper – who had been borrowed from Buckland for the day – gathered comfortably.
Even at two down, a Buckland goal before the break could have made things interesting but it was the team in red who notched next, Jess Wooley powering home a fine strike from the left-hand side of the box to send Bristol in three up. To make matters worse, the half ended with Kukor going down and picking up a hand injury as she attempted to drive up the left touchline.
HT: Buckland Athletic LFC 0 – 3 Bristol City WFC
Unable to get the goal at the end of the half, Buckland did the next best thing with an early strike after the break, Warman with a great goal to reduce the arrears. Any hope of a comeback was soon thwarted though as Goddard converted substitute Ellie Strippel’s free-kick for a fourth.
Following that goal, the game turned into the Lauren Hemp show. If the just-turned 17-year old had been dangerous in the first half then she was positively lethal after the break and could have scored more than the one she did put away. Turning her marker with ease, Hemp sent a warning effort from the edge of the box crashing against the bar.
Substitute Libby Goater was wide with Exeter’s next effort before Buckland managed to force a save with a low shot at the other end. Then the ball was with Hemp again, her shot from the left cannoning back off the post this time before ending up in Bond’s grateful arms. Gilroy headed over and Hemp hit the side netting before the fifth goal finally arrived, Hemp again involved as her shot was blocked by Bond’s leg before Holly Reed netted from the follow-up. Moments later, Hemp was popping up on the right, bursting past Potts who went down for some time with an ankle injury. When the game resumed, Hemp tried one final time to bag herself a second goal but her shot cleared the bar.
Looking beyond the scoreline, Buckland will have benefited greatly from their Bristol challenge and should feel ready to take on anyone the SWWFL can throw at them.
“I thought it was a great workout for us as our first pre-season game of the season against a good opposition,” said Bristol City WFC Development Coach James Thomas.
“Although we had a young squad we showed plenty of patience and composure in possession of the ball and the pace and incisiveness of our attacks were really pleasing to see.
“I’d also like to thank Buckland for their hospitality and the opportunity to bring a team down as part of our preparation for the coming season.”
FT: Buckland Athletic LFC 1 – 5 Bristol City WFC
Goals – Buckland: Natalie Warman
Bristol City: Amy Goddard x 2; Lauren Hemp; Holly Reed; Jess Wooley
Buckland Athletic LFC: 1. Abbi Bond; 2. Corinne Potts; 4. Carla Staddon; 5. Jodie Chubb; 6. Courtney Butt; 8. Gabi Trays; 9. Hayley Chamberlain (c); 10. Laura Gough; 12. Natalie Warman; 14. Abigail Meyer; 31. Kirsty Caunter
Substitutes Used: 3. Katie Sawyer; 7. Chloe Driscoll; 16. Leanne Kenward; 17. Charlie Maling; 27. Helen Kukor
Bristol City WFC: 4. Amy Goddard; 7. Chloe Gilroy; 11. Holly Reed; 15. Jess Wooley; 19. Courtney Murphy; 21. Holly Chandler; 23. Amina Vine; 24. Aimee Palmer; 26. Ellie Butler; 27. Lauren Hemp.
Substitutes Used: 10. Destiny McDonald-Ferguson; 12. Libby Goater; 14. Ellie Strippel
Buckland Girls Under 11s Join the BALFC Family
We are excited to announce that we have expanded again – this time our junior girls section.
Following on from the success of the Under 12s last season, winning the league at the first time of asking, we have entered an Under 11s team into the Devon Girls Football League.
The girls have already started weekly training in preparation for the coming season and we are really excited to be able to offer them a great environment in which to play football, develop skills and make friends while being part of a progressive club where developing players is at the forefront of our philosophy.
We look forward to seeing how they progress over the season.
Buckland Prepare for Big Bristol Challenge
Bristol City WFC play in the highest tier of ladies’ football – the Women’s Super League – and on Sunday 13th August (KO 1pm) they will be at Homers Heath for Buckland LFC’s biggest pre-season challenge to date.
Boasting a squad containing a number of England youth players, Bristol City will be taking on the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City when the WS1 kicks off in September.
For just £2, you can see them in South Devon and collect a souvenir programme to mark what will be a special occasion for all concerned.
Open Trials and Training Session – Mon 17th July 6.30-8pm
Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you all at our family fun football club, where we can offer your daughters the opportunity to play football, make friends at a great progressive football club and follow a clear pathway from start to finish.
2016/17 – The Treble Season
Clubnets hope you enjoy this video review of an incredible 2016/17 season for Buckland LFC.
Clock Ticks Down to Big County Final
It is now less than 48 hours before South West Women’s League Western Division champions Buckland Athletic take on Premier Division title-challengers Marine Academy Plymouth at Coach Road in the final of the SWH Ltd. Devon Women’s Senior Cup on Friday night (7.15pm KO).
Both sides have their eyes on a league, county cup and league cup treble but MAP’s league hopes were dealt a severe blow last Sunday as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Torquay United and could yet end the season with nothing.
In contrast, Buckland go into the game on the back of a staggering 20-0 win in their last away league game of the season, at Illogan LFC, Laura Gough and Kirsty Caunter scoring seven goals apiece. Having also knocked out the two most fancied teams in the tournament, Premier League South West sides Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle, few people will doubt that Buckland have what it takes to lift the cup.
Whatever the final result, it is certainly not a game to be missed!
Girls Under 9 and Under 10: Join Our Evolving Club!
Off the back of our tremendous success this season, we are really passionate about developing girls’ football in Devon. We are really interested in hearing from any girls under nine or under ten (which is school years 4 and 5 currently) as we look to launch a new side for next season at the football club.
We believe it’s really important that we keep growing and evolving and would love to hear from any girls who are interested in playing football for Buckland Athletic. The girls’ team we set up this year have really pioneered and shown what we can offer as a football club and we feel it’s the right time to expand and grow, offering the girls a fabulous facility and a fun football club.
Any questions: please get in touch and come and join the Buckland family #COYY
balfc1@gmail.com
Grant Fisher – 07533861064
www.bucklandlfc.co.uk