A GOOD DAY AT THE OFFICE

Pioneer League U8 Argyle
Buckland Athletic...3
Stoke Gabriel...2

Buckland Athletic found their place in the sun as they held on for a fine 3-2 win over a classy and committed Stoke Gabriel side on a glorious morning at Homers Heath.
Sent out in a new 2-4-0 formation, Buckland were soon in control with Harry pouncing on a loose ball in the box to give his side the lead, his right-foot strike finding the corner with precision.
The team’s new set-up allowed Jamie and Declan to push forward, with the midfield quartet of Harry, Joey, Beck and Georgia quickly adapting to their new roles. Jamie, on his way to a well-deserved player of the week award, went close with a fine strike before Joey, who hit the same post twice with two great efforts, turned in Harry’s corner with a smart left-foot finish to make the score 2-0.
Beck and Georgia were unstoppable down the flanks, with Joey and Harry driving the team forward through the middle, and Declan and Jamie were able to snuff out any threat before glovesman Gabriel was called into action as Buckland took control.
Buckland boss Paul rang the changes at the break, playing all of his cards as he made four substitutions, and all of the new arrivals quickly settled in.
Mason was unlucky not to add to his collection of goal of the season contenders with one stunning right-foot drive which whistled past the angle of post and bar as he took control of midfield. It was the sort of strike more usually seen from such legends of world football as Maradona, Pele and Jimmy Bullard, although Jimmy Bullard’s usually go in.
Brad was using the ball to good effect on the left side of midfield, while Josh was seeing plenty of action and causing lots of problems down the right and Adam tackled ferociously at the back.
And Buckland’s reward came when Josh drilled a shot in at the back post for a deserved third goal.
Stoke Gabriel were in no mood to surrender and pulled one back despite Mason’s brave attempts to prevent the ball crossing the line, then added another with the last kick of the game, a stunning finish from a corner which just evaded Gabriel’s acrobatic dive to make the final score 3-2.
The new management team of Paul Darren and Darrell were delighted with their team’s performance.
“Me and my management team have asked some questions of the players this week with a revolutionary new formation, and they have come up with the right answers, so fair play to us,” said Paul.
“In fact only the other day, I heard someone saying that it was the best managerial appointment since David Brent was put in charge of the Slough branch of Wernham Hogg paper suppliers, and you can’t say fairer than that.”

Buckland goals: Harry, Joey, Josh

Player of the week: Jamie