Page 14 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Aylesbury 060822

Match Report

Ashton & Backwell UFC 1 v Buckland Athletic FC 2

First game of the new season, how would the 4 new signings fit in and how would the
squad develop under Gaffer Beech with a full season behind him? The answer after this
defeat is that it is very much still a work in progress. Yet what must be fixed and quickly
is the loss of tempo that was evident last season and was rarely visible on this warm,
but very overcast July afternoon.
For the 1 15 minutes the Stags were the livelier and controlled the game, indeed a
st
White free kick after only 3 minutes was narrowly headed over by skipper Hardidge
when very well placed to score, who throughout led by example. Yet beyond that there
was little real pressure to cause the Yellows to make mistakes, with them weathering
the early storm and then causing the home side to make 3 errors which were ultimately
fatal.
In the 16th minute the ball was hopefully punted forward by the visitors as a way of
relieving pressure on their goal, a watchful Webster outpaced the home defence and
offside strap to control the ball and slot easily past Coombes for the opener. 2 minutes
later and a sloppy challenge by Hedges on Bush led to a penalty award, Coombes made
a very good save by diving full length to his right to push away for a corner. Yet another
5 minutes gone, poor marking allowed Bush to take the ball unpressurised on the right
of the box and shot in past a stationery keeper for the second and decisive goal.
Bush might even have doubled his tally ten minutes before the break when he beat all
except the cross bar.
Stags were now toothless up front and too slow, wingbacks little threat and leaving too
much space behind, then at last! A real Stag attack! Charlie Saunders took ball down the
left to goal line, crossed to Hardidge in box who thumped it in through a mass of players
for 1-2 on 42 minutes. Backwell were back in the game.
After the interval, the Hosts totally dominated possession, the visitors barely making
progress into the Backwell 18 yard area, leaving Coombes with nothing to do for 45
minutes. For the home side, seeing the ease with which Saunders and Hardidge had cut
open a very average Athletic side, did not then use this to inspire them.

A & B could have and should have created more goal opportunities. There were
glimpses, Borges might have done better with a chance if he had passed rather than
shot, Hardidge headed against the bar and then had a shot saved by Collings. The
substitutes all made an impact and upped the tempo, Harry Walker providing width and
Sam Price shot over from 6 yards when scoring seemed easier, but was clattered in the
process and somehow the neither the ref or assistant managed to give a penalty. The
Stags should have done better.

2 big games this week, away at Shepton Mallet Tuesday(7.30) and Saturday welcome
the 1 ever visit of Southern League Aylesbury Utd in the FA Cup, extra preliminary
st
round (3pm), gives them the chance to bounce back quickly.
MAN OF THE MATCH: JAMES WHITE
Team: COOMBES, NEWMAN [SUB PRICE 84m], SOLLARS [SUB ANTHONY], WHITE,
HEDGES, BISHOP, PREDDIE
CATTERMOLE [SUB CONNOR SAUNDERS 70m], HARDIDGE ©, CHARLIE SAUNDERS,
BORGES [SUB WALKER 84m]