Buckland Athletic 3rds 5 Loddiswell Athletic Reserves 1
Thursday 11th March 2010

Loddiswell reserves were relishing an opportunity to play under floodlights at Buckland Athletic’s plush Homers Heath ground. The hospitality did not extend itself to the pitch however where they lined up against a strong Buckland squad.

Manager Chris Guard will have taken positives from the game; the performances of teenage full backs Shaun Rowe and Adam Tapper in particular. Buckland were made to work hard in front of their coaching staff and this raised the intensity of the match. Two goals from forward Malcolm Douglas and a three nil half time lead put the hosts in a commanding position.

Loddiswell goal keeper Richard Teague, returning from injury, made a couple of smart saves before midfielder Tim Stathers poached a goal for the visitors after Buckland’s Lee Davis fumbled a Danny Stathers free-kick. The visitors progress was holted by an unfortunate own goal by in form centre-half Ben Rogers who seemed to connect too sweetly with a back pass that beat Teague at his far post, rolled along the goal line and in off the near post.

Buckland substitute Sam Pearce nudged in a fifth for the home side before Tim Stathers received a wincing challenge on the edge of the penalty box from Ross Beer who in the view of the Loddiswell players got off lightly with a yellow card from referee Maaren Olander. Loddiswell centre back Sam Elliot denied Bucklands Paul Sharples with an immaculate sliding tackle that appeared to ruffle the forwards feathers.

The sides next line up together for the Fred Hewings Cup semi final in April.