Frustrating afternoon for Buzzard Mens 2nd Team

After a morale boosting win on the opening day of the season Buzzard went into this game full of confidence, but knowing that the game against West Hampstead would be an equally challenging with the opposition having scored a hatful of goals in their opener. Leighton pressed the opposition well and started to force them into a number of unforced errors. Leighton were zipping the ball around with lots of clever movement and passing. It felt like it was only a matter of time until the first goal arrived with Matthew Nash, Stephen Fuller, Dan Wright and Fraser Retford all going close in the first quarter. West Hampstead could not live with the movement by Buzzard with Tim Bellamy and Clive Warncken orchestrating from the middle of the park. With 20 minutes gone Buzzard finally got their goal with Nash’s neat finish following a flowing move with at least seven of the outfield players involved. Buzzard knew they were in control and pushed for another goal before half time, but to no avail.

Half time came and skipper Bellamy tried to reinforce the positives and ensure the team continued to play as they had in the first half. However within 90 seconds of the restart the game was level. Buzzard failed to clear the ball from their own D and following a series of short corners Hampstead scored a well worked goal to bring the scores level. Two minutes later, West Hampstead repeated the same routine, only for the ball to be stopped on the line by Will Riley albeit with his foot. Penalty flick followed and Hampstead took the lead off the post and an unfortunate Stuart McDonald. A goal down after four minutes of the second half having been cruising at half time sent shock waves throughout the team and Buzzard started to panic and get frustrated making a number of silly errors especially when in the final third of the pitch. Buzzard threw everything at their opponents, who remained strong and resilient to the end leaving Leighton frustrated and ready to put things right at South Berkshire next week.