Second Team Match Reports

September | October

Stratford Cup Final, Tues 13th April 2010
Hanbury Park, Haywards Heath

Buxted II v Copthorne

After weeks of excited build up the day finally arrived, with players immaculately turned out and set to grace the Stratford Challenge cup final. The opposition for the day was a very strong Copthorne side from Division 5, winners of the Somerville cup two weeks before having knocked out the team top of Div 4 en route to the final.

The Match started with Copthorne the liveliest, keeping possession well and threatening the Buxted goal with several decent half chances. However it was Buxted who stole the initiative with a quick break in the 8th minute, the ball finding James Muddle who threaded a pass into the path of the on rushing Dean Brooker, who calmly stepped by the sizeable Copthorne keeper and netted with ease to give Buxted the lead. The fans of which there were many went…mental!!!

As the half progressed Buxted were finding it hard to keep the ball on the deck, and Copthorne began to show their teeth down the Buxted right wing. On 20 minutes Copthorne pulled it back to 1-1, and soon after added to their lead. Buxted could easily have felt the game slipping away, but that is not the spirit of the team, and their determination was visible for all to see. Scott Richards was making good runs down the left, one of note ending in a shot that fizzed marginally high and wide of the Copthorne back post, but the well organised Copthorne side were able to cut out any killer pass Scott was looking for. As half time arrived Buxted were looking second best, but still in the game.

Half time changes saw Mat Henshaw replaced by Toby Arnold, and Karl Smith replaced by Bernie Emmett, with Chris Beeney dropping to Rightback. These changes had an impact on the game, and suddenly Buxted looked more solid and organised at the back, and a more lively proposition up front, with the tricky Toby Arnold giving Copthorne a headache they could well do without. With Bernie winning the ball and giving it easy in the middle of the park Buxted were now able to hold their own, keep possession a bit better and turn this final on its head. This said, Copthorne still edged the possession and created several good chances, pulling some outstanding stops from the Buxted number 1 Arron Mogridge, one notable reaction save leaving the spectators agog!

As the game progressed Dean Brooker was starting to feel the attentions of the Copthorne back line, requiring the trainer to come on and fix him up. It was Dean’s constant running and harassing that lead to Buxteds second goal, Dean twisting inside the penalty area only to be felled by a clumbsy challenge – whistle blown, penalty awarded, penalty scored, cue the chanting of “Stag Aaaarmy!!!” and an adrenalin fuelled Dean Brooker fly by for the crowd! Buxteds tails were up now, suddenly a more real feeling of belief emerged and Buxted took the game to Copthorne, with the ever energetic Adam Smith epitomising the Buxted spirit. This did expose gaps at the back, but the Back line held strong, Each one, Beeney, John, Oli and Harry making last ditch challenges to keep the door shut.

With just 15 mins left it was the fast feet of Dean Brooker that once again drew the challenge from Copthorne, and once again the whistle went for a penalty…and the Buxted crowd erupted with approval! Unfortunately on this occasion Dean was unable to convert the spot kick…the Copthorne fans erupted with approval. The game was now on a knife edge, Copthorne still threatening, but equally worried about the lively front two for Buxted. With just 8 minutes left on the clock, the break was on for Copthorne down the Buxted left wing. As players tried to get back in position the ball was fired in from the right, and just evaded the head of Chris Beeney as he tried desperately to get the ball clear. This allowed the ball to go across the box to the on rushing Copthorne hit man who coolly slotted home to break Buxted hearts and silence the otherwise noisy Buxted supporters. Buxteds young livewire Bertie Hudson was thrown on at the death as Buxted tried to claw back the deficit without success…

The game was played in an excellent spirit by both sides, and every Buxted player involved can hold their heads high with pride at an outstanding effort, the club applaud you. Thanks to Andy Matthews and Lloyd Massey for leading the side through the impressive qualifying campaign and oh so close to victory and silverware. Also thanks to Tim Burchett for his roles as warm up guy, getting the team buzzing, and as physio looking after the wellbeing of all our players.

Big thanks to all who supported the lads, they really knew you were there, and it made the match a really special occasion for all the players.

Man of the match award was given to the Buxted number 10, Dean Brooker, who notched his 30th and 31st goals of the season, but other special mentions should go to Harry Forster, for an exemplary display at left back, Arron Mogridge the skinny keeper, and Oli Lotter who is showing great promise at centreback as highlighted by his strong second half display.

Line up:

1. Arron Mogdrige  2. Karl Smith  3. Harry Forster  4. Oli Lotter  5. John Jeffery  6.  Chris Beeney  7. Scott Richards  8. James Muddle  9.  Mat Henshaw  10. Dean Brooker  11.  Adam Smith (c) 12.  Bernie Emmett  14. Toby Arnold 15.  Matt Johnson  16. Wayne Bristow  17. Bertie Hudson

Buxted II 0 Ansty Social II 1 (after extra time)

Saturday 13th of March, Malins cup  Semi-final

Buxted 2nds missed there chance to appear in the Malins Cup Final after going down after extra time to an hard working Ansty side who are 2 divisions lower.

Buxted were over anxious to perform and had the majority of the play and should have taken the lead before half time however not a fully fit Dean Brooker missed his penalty effort which was saved by the impressive Ansty Goalkeeper.

The 2nd half started the same as the 2nd half with Scott Richards proving dangerous to the Ansty Defence,but still could not get that vital goal.

The game went into Extra Time and the inevitable happened Ansty broke away and got the winner.  Apart from Scott Richards, Chris Beeney was outstanding and pushed forward his side whenever he could.

Buxted II  4  Fletching II 2
Saturday 7th November, Malins Cup Round 1

On paper Buxted's easiest game of the season, but Buxted have learnt the hard way that football is played on grass not paper after the stinging defeat to Pilgrims at the end of September.

The game started fairly even, with Buxted looking the more dangerous but as if to replicate the Pilgrims game a slip at the back allowed Fletching to take the lead within the first 10 minutes!!

The equaliser was not long to wait when Adam Smith again troubled the Fletching left back and shot low and hard to the left of the keeper to bulge the net and settle some early nerves. 

Buxted continued to press but were looking frail in the centre of the park with both Muddle and Beeney missing through injury, and failed to control the game for any length of time which always kept Fletching in the game.

The second half saw much of the same, lots of hard work but something was missing...someone who could head a ball maybe!?!?  Fletching took a suprise lead early in the second half, care of a penalty given away cheaply by the out of sorts Cox, who had to date been impressive all season. Luckily the Ref was feeling in a generous mood and decided to even the score by giving Buxted a pen as well which was cleanly dispatched by Brooker for his 12th goal fo the season, with his 13th to follow later in the game.  The introduction of Allan Curtis was key to stabilising Buxted, winning the ball in the air and playing simple passes to spread play and set up attacks.  Scott Richards scored the fourth and was the metaphorical nail in fletchings coffin with an inswinging freekick which bypassed everyone to find the bottom right corner.

Again Bertie looked lively when introduced with 15 mins left, and was unlucky not to score, but it was super sub Allan Curtis who took the plaudits and the MOTM award for his keep it simple football, though was pushed hard for it by John Jeffery and ryan Wyatt was also getting back to the form that kept him in the starting XI for the end of last season.

MOTM Allan Curtis

Team.
1. A Mogridge, 2. R Wyatt, 3. J Cox, 4.  O Lotter 5. J Jeffrey, 6. M Johnson, 7. S Richards, 8. K Smith 9. M Henshaw, 10. D Brooker, 11. A Smith.  12.  B Hudson 14. A Curtis 15. A Marks