Match Report for 20/02/10
Reserves v Croxley Guild Res.
Buntingford Drew 4-4
Manager Laurence Salmon instrumental in a number of Town's goals
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Town Reserves left the field at the Bury this Saturday after an intriguing 90 minutes, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Entertaining 2nd place Croxley Guild, Town again fielded a below strength team, with Matt Clayden, Adam Estherby and Jan Pearce all unavailable. The game started brightly and both teams looked to attack on the sticky surface, few chances ensued though as the conditions made it difficult to open up either defence. Town had the majority of possession in the first 20 minutes without really threatening the Croxley goal. Buntingford then found themselves unlucky to be behind then in some respects when on 20 minutes Croxley were gifted 2 free headers in their box, the first nodded back into the danger area from a corner, the second a deft flick over the line from inside the 6 yard box; on both occasions the Town defence not getting close enough to make a challenge. A solid performance in midfield from Liam Elmes  |
Undeterred, Town continued to huff and puff without troubling the Croxley keeper and were made to pay just before half time for their lack of cutting edge; a misplaced pass in the midfield was cut out and Croxley broke quickly to finish off a fine counter attack, the ball being cut back and tucked away inside Tim Rice’s near post. Town went in at half time 2-0 down feeling deflated, after playing some good football and defending well for most of the half, 2 chances had cost them 2 goals. The second half was an absolute feast of entertainment! Town came out of the blocks like a greyhound and piled the pressure on the Croxley goal. The home side pulled a goal back within 5 minutes of the restart, Salmon’s free kick into the box was knocked down by John Gamble and leading scorer Louis Gilbert slammed in through a crowd of players. An great performance from captain Roger Benton despite the o.g!  |
Within 2 minutes, Gilbert had put Town level, this time a fine move started off when young Alex West picked out Salmon, his flick found Gilbert on the edge of the box and Gilbert first chested and then volleyed the ball into the bottom corner. Bunt were not finished there, moments later a Salmon corner was only half cleared, Ross Smith making a fine challenge in the Croxley box, the rebound falling to centre half Gamble who smashed home from 8 yards. Croxley had obviously thought the game was over at half time and hadn’t left the dressing room! Town the banged in a 4th goal - yet another Salmon free kick wasn’t dealt with and while Roger Benton tussled for the ball, up stepped Gamble again to tuck the ball away from 6 yards. Sadly for Town, this roused the sleeping Croxley into action; with 20 minutes remaining Town now found themselves camped in their own half and two fresh faces for the away team gave them a lift on the heavy surface and the vice began to close on the Town defence. With ten minutes remaining young Alex West had a pass intercepted and with Gamble rushing forward from the back looking for a hat-trick, Town found themselves outnumbered in defence. A ball was swung in and as Benton went to clear, the ball sliced off his foot and into the bottom corner! This energized the Croxley team further and the onslaught continued. Sadly for Town the equaliser arrived in the last 2 minutes, a low ball in steered home inside the 6 yard box off the head of a Croxley substitute. The final whistle moments later brought the curtain down on a rollercoaster of a game for Buntingford who have to be content with a point against the team placed 2nd in the league. Excellent performances from Gamble, West, Smith, Benton and Elmes bode well for Town as they will look to improve their league position in the coming weeks; with a number of players returning, expectations will certainly be running high.
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