Six Goals Shared as Bucks Finish Fourth
Buckland Athletic finished in a respectable fourth position in the Toolstation Western League, ending their campaign with a 3-3 draw away at last season’s champions Odd Down of Bath.
Only 24 people turned out at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground where Jared Lewington underlined his status as this season’s top scorer with the opener within the first quarter of an hour. Around five minutes later, the Yellows were celebrating again as Charlie Johansen found the net to make it 2-0. Odd Down quickly got themselves back into the game when Jon Sage got on the end of a Ben Wych free-kick with 20 minutes played and half-time arrived with the game finely poised at 2-1.
Wych finally drew the hosts level, on 65 minutes, but Lewington hit his second soon after to edge Buckland back in front. The final word went to Dave Gould who equalised from the penalty spot with 15 minutes left to play.
With Melksham winning 1-0 at Gillingham Town, the result was academic in the end with Buckland finishing fourth no matter what happened – a whopping 15 points above fifth placed Bradford Town.
All in all, manager Ellis Laight has to be happy with his achievement in his first season with the team, particularly with the spell from October to February which saw them embark on a 17 game unbeaten run and get to the quarter-finals of the FA Vase – two steps from landing a Wembley cup final. The quest for the Southern League goes on for South Devon’s second highest placed football club!
