FA Vase: Buckland Hit Five to Set Up Tie with 2014 Winners
Buckland scored five for the second Saturday in succession to knock Hampshire side New Milton Town out of the FA Vase. The omens were good when the Yellows’ travelling army outnumbered the home support, and the first blow in the Vase was struck – aptly – by a Gardner, Lloyd converting Gavin Hammon’s square ball in the 8th minute to settle any nerves. Jared Lewington almost doubled the visitors’ advantage, chipping over Plotr Jachucha’s crossbar, before Josh Omamogodo missed a chance at the other end. Bucks did make it two soon after, Hammon once again squaring, this time for his strike partner Lewington to strike the decisive blow on 25 minutes – his fifth of the campaign. Gardner could have made it three on 32 minutes when he was brought down in the box and elected to take the penalty, but Jachucha guessed correctly and parried the spot-kick away. Ryan Dabbs also fired narrowly over in the closing minutes of a productive half for Bucks.
Hammon netted soon after the restart, Jachucha saving his initial effort but unable to keep out Hammon’s header from the rebound. Then, on 78 minutes, Gardner and Liam Drew put the marksman through again, Hammon blasting into the roof of the net for his 12th of the season in all competitions. On 84 minutes, Andy Robertson showed the calmness of experience as he slotted coolly home from inside the box for his first for the club – and the Yellows’ fifth of the afternoon. Tom Buckler, deputising for the suspended Grant Fisher, ensured there would also be an 11th clean sheet to celebrate as he recovered from a poor clearance to tip New Milton Town’s only goalbound effort over the bar.
Next up for Bucks are Sholing FC, at home. Another Wessex League club, Sholing sit at the same level as Buckland and are the perfect example of what is possible for Adam Castle’s side – they beat West Auckland Town at Wembley Stadium in 2014 to lift the Vase.
