Bugbrooke Down Development Side

Buckingham Athletic were looking to add some more goals and produce a more solid defence going into this game, with a 4-3 defeat last weekend and a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, with Larry Woodward still to record his first pre-season friendly win as the Development sides manager, since his appointment this summer.

“We never really got to grips with the small pitch and our opponents more physical approach.” The facility and lack of class football was the problem in the manager’s eyes, as some conditions of the game were not in ‘The Ath’s’ favour.

Despite them failing to get a hold on the game, they managed to go into the break level, with a 0-0 scoreline, a good defensive response to stay resolute and attempt to claim a first clean sheet under Woodward’s tenure. This proved to be short lived, when a host of changes were implemented to give game time to all players in the squad, causing imbalance and a lack of simple football to try and nick a goal.

The side were unable to stay in the game for the whole game with them conceding four second half goals, eventually losing the game 4-0 and not causing their opponents enough trouble, and not doing enough to keep their goal at bay.

Despite the result, the manager found a way to pick positives out of the game, “On a positive note, everyone had a decent run out for match fitness whilst Brad Thurgood and Louie Walters made satisfactory debuts. Overall though, a disappointing performance which will need to be improved upon.” The feature of match fitness will be key going into the new season with the side going into a new league with sterner tests yet to follow including a local derby against Winslow’s development side in the coming weeks.

Next up for Buckingham Athletic Development is Hook Norton, with a 7:30 kick-off on Wednesday at ‘The Ath’s’ home of Stratford fields.