Buckland Could go Second for Christmas
It may only last a couple of days, but a win away at Willand Rovers tomorrow afternoon will see Buckland Athletic enjoy Christmas Day in second spot in the Toolstation Western League.
With Melksham Town and Street (currently second and third respectively) both at home on Boxing Day, the positional advantage may be short-lived but a win at the aptly-named Silver Street would of course be treasured on its own merit, especially since Buckland failed to beat Rovers last season. Both league encounters were drawn and Willand won their third meeting in May 1-0 to deny Bucks a Les Phillips final place. Victory would also be a seventh win on the trot for the in-form South Devon outfit.
The Yellows travelled to Hardings Lane last Saturday to take on a Gillingham Town side who had picked up a somewhat unexpected point at Homers Heath back in August.
Gillingham have clearly improved from the side who shipped 11 in their two fixtures against Buckland last season and it was a tough first half for the visitors. But they absorbed the home pressure and made it to the break still level before upping their game after the interval. Lloyd Gardner finally broke the deadlock with a long-range strike on 68 minutes which left the home goalkeeper with no chance. Jared Lewington then made it two, Gardner finding Si Revell whose shot struck the post before the striker hit home the rebound.
Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 1pm
