Willand Win Moves Bucks Second for Christmas Day
With Melksham Town and Street both at home on Boxing Day, Buckland’s second spot in the Toolstation Western League may be short-lived but they will be in the runners-up spot on Christmas Day thanks to a fourth league win in a row, including consecutive away wins and clean sheets.
A single goal at Willand Rovers’ appropriately named Silver Street was also enough to extend the Yellows’ winning streak to seven in all competitions – ten matches unbeaten in all. It also made some amends for Bucks’ semi-final defeat here in the Les Phillips Cup last May and, to cap it all, it was the first ever success Bucks have enjoyed at this ground.
With no other Devon matches taking place on Christmas Eve, a bumper crowd was expected and the numbers didn’t disappoint with 170 turning out, Rovers’ biggest gate by some distance. They were treated to an even first half but Willand had been looking the more likely to score as the whistle approached. After the break, Buckland upped their game and created the best of the meagre chances on offer. It looked as if the points would be shared as the match crept into stoppage time but Jared Lewington had other ideas, smashing home a dramatic winner to send the visitors back to Newton Abbot in festive mood.
Next up for Buckland is a testing away trip to Chichester City – and a chance to book themselves a place in the last 16 of the FA Vase,
