Bucks CC (16/12/2001)
2001 - 2002 Season, Hithercroft Under 15s



The weather for this game was very cold but dry and the ground was soft but in good condition. Bucks CC are currently in second place in the division and had beaten us 6-3 at our home ground earlier in the season. Following our poor performance last week we were not very confident in our chances.

The game kicked off at 11.04 am and within the first minute Jason Guy, the Hithercroft captain, had put the visitors into the lead with a well-struck goal. The game continued with end-to-end play, both sides exhibiting strength and skill. After 12 minutes Ollie Jones levelled the score after picking up a through-ball, going to the left of the goal and then shooting past Phil Lines as he came out. Three minutes later, Bucks CC’s Danny Kelly played the ball down the left wing to Andy Eeles who out-paced Jack Fuller and fired the ball into the Hithercroft net to put Bucks CC into the lead 2-1. Hithercroft then increased the pressure which culminated in a shot by Jason passing through the unfortunate goalkeeper’s legs to bring the score level again. One minute later Dewayne Dublin broke away with a Bucks CC defender hot on his heels; he pulled the ball back, went round the defender and hit a powerful shot into the net to restore Hithercroft’s lead. Hithercroft’s confidence began to grow with more and more attacking moves and they were rewarded in the twenty-third minute when Dewayne, with four opposing players around him, turned and launched the ball into the net. Phil pulled off a couple of superb close-range saves, first punching the ball out to the feet of a Bucks CC player and then parrying the resulting shot. Five minutes before the interval Jason took the ball on the wing, turned towards goal and hammered the ball over the goalkeeper’s head just below the crossbar to make the half-time score 5-2 to Hithercroft.

Five minutes into the second half Bucks CC took the ball down the right wing and tried a shot. Phil managed to get his hands to the ball, so reducing it’s momentum, but it fell to Ollie Jones who thumped it into the net. Phil pulled off a fine save shortly afterwards, diving to gather the ball from a long shot. From a corner to Bucks CC they were denied a goal when a header hit the upright. Hithercroft then attacked with Shane Globe passing the ball to Jason who crossed the ball into the middle, but unfortunately just behind Dewayne who would have only had the keeper to beat. The Shane-Jason passing move was then repeated, this time the final pass going to Duane White who rocketted the ball home for a 6-3 lead, eleven minutes into the half. Then followed two corners from the right and one from the left to the home team, the second being saved on the goal-line by Riccardo Falconi who was making his debut for us. After twenty minutes Dom Whittaker reduced the Bucks CC deficit to 2 goals when he hit the ball wide of Phil, who dived but was unable to reach it. Dewayne then had a great opportunity when he received a superb through-ball from Duane White but, instead of going for goal he pulled the ball back as a defender was close to catching him and the chance was lost. Duane White, who was having a really good game, took the ball down the wing and, despite the close attention of some Bucks CC defenders, took the ball towards the eighteen yard box but was brought down. The ensuing free kick was taken by Shane but the ball was cleared. Bucks CC’s No 8 then received the ball with his back to goal, turned and struck it just over the crossbar. At this point Kevin Ife was replaced by Ruari Kerr for the final ten minutes. Six minutes from the end a long ball was played into the Bucks CC half where Shane collected it and ran down the centre of the field virtually unopposed to slot the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. Duane White shielded the ball, preventing a defender from impeding it’s progress as it gently rolled into the net. Richard Sunderland was then brought on for Hithercroft to replace Jack Fuller. Bucks CC then upped their pace in a bid to pull the game back, scoring within a minute via a shot from Andy Eeles. Then, two minutes later they retrieved another goal through Ollie Jones, the game ending with a 7-6 win to the visitors.

This had been a very exciting game with both teams displaying skill and determination. This performance, if we can sustain it, should see us heading back up the table. Our departure from the ground was delayed by the unfortunate case of ‘The wrong trousers’ (apologies to Wallace & Grommit). An eight year old had inadvertently gone off home with Jack’s trousers from the changing room and we had to wait for her father to go home and retrieve them.


Hithercroft’s MoM: This was shared by Riccardo Falconi and Duane White.

Hithercroft’s scorers: Jason Guy (3), Dewayne Dublin (2), Duane White and Shane Globe.

Bucks CC’s MoM: Tom Woy

Bucks CC’s scorers: Ollie Jones (3), Andy Eeles (2) and Dominic Whittaker