MATCH SUMMARY : Mott Macdonald (19 December 2015)

<p class="MsoNormal">Buckden Reserves faced the top of the table off the back of a 5 game losing streak. Though vast improvements were noted against Cherry Hinton the previous week, once again we found ourselves without an established goal keeper.

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<p class="MsoNormal">The game started scrappy for both teams and Mott MacDonald seemed to have learnt a new trick from previous years. A fast striker that they were all too keen to launch the ball up top to and hope that his pace saw him through. They created a handful of chances that the step in goal keeper Josh Draper dealt with confidently. As the half settled into an even flow of chances at both ends it was the link up of Charlie Ling and Owen Howard that began to pay dividends. Where Mott Macdonald created scrappy half chances, Buckden were knocking on the door with genuine threats. The opener came midway through the half from a Grant Draper in swinging corner that glided of the head of the day&rsquo;s superstar Owen and nestled into the side netting of the far post. A goal that certainly left the home team rattled. By the end of the first half it&rsquo;s fair to say that if the score line had been 3-3 no one would have been surprised with the chances at either end.

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<p class="MsoNormal">Buckden began the second half in the same fashion they ended the first but Mott MacDonald had regained their composure. They are top of the league for a reason after all. They began threatening Buckden with every free kick and corner won. Their defence was resolute and they began to build momentum as the half wore on. They were eventually rewarded for their efforts leaving Buckden visibly frustrated at not capitalising on some of their earlier efforts. As the game wore on frustration set in to both teams as individual&rsquo;s competitive nature shone through. The home team&rsquo;s height and areal presence is something few teams could get to grips with and as the game became stretched the home team managed to snatch another goal leaving Buckden in danger of another loss to add to the tally with 15 minutes remaining.

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<p class="MsoNormal">Rather than continue with the football that had served Buckden well, keeping the ball on the ground and using the width provided. We opted for a more direct approach forcing the home team to have 10 players behind the ball with the option of the long ball to the loan striker. Unfortunately it wasn&rsquo;t to be Buckdens day as the game fizzled out with few shots or headers on target for either team.

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<p class="MsoNormal">Final score 2-1.