Homers Heath :: Buckland Athletic

Vs 


Date: Saturday 22nd September 2012
Venue: Homers Heath, Newton Abbot
Full Time: Buckland Athletic 1-2 Bath City
Competition: FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

My Matchday: 6
Attendance: 367

Despair as we concede to go 1-0 down

A sunny but disturbingly cold afternoon saw Bath City progress by the skin of their teeth into the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Buckland almost became giant killers but Aaron Brown and Kurtis Guthrie salvaged what was a scrappy win for Bath.

A bit of a mix up this time! I decided that I'd join my friend Andy on the train to Buckland rather than the customary Club coach. The price down was very similar and I was assured by Andy that there was a scenic route to be found on the South coast through Exeter which was to be adored. I was up and about early on the day as I was thoroughly excited by the prospect of an exclusive place in the next round of the FA Cup. I met Andy and his dad at around 10.30AM at Bath Spa Railway Station. We made sure we got our tickets and made our way for the platform to catch our first train. We made a short hop to Bristol Temple Meads and then headed to the next platform for our train to Newton Abbot. The journey down took about 1 hour and a half and was probably the best journey on the train I've been on, we came around the Exeter coastline to the gleaming sunshine, bearing down on the ocean that surrounded us. This put me in a brilliant mood for the day. We arrived the sunny yet bitterly cold Newton Abbot at around 1pm. Andy, his dad and myself wandered down Newton Abbot High Street until coming to a Wetherspoons. Me and Andy then decided we'd leave his dad there to have a drink and head for the ground. We walked back down the high street, Andy went and got himself a pasty and we carried on. It took us 25 minutes to walk to the ground, and it was a very pleasant one through some very elegant parks, roads and lovely village areas. We finally found Homers Heath on a road with no paths and made our way up the hill into the ground. 

We parted way with our £6 and bought the best programme of the year to date for £1.50, no other Western League club would produce such a detailed, great feeling matchday programme. By now the sun was out and giving us a roasting, I decided to go into the clubhouse and get myself a can of coke as I was thirsty after that walk. I did look at the food prices which were very reasonable but I wasn't hungry, just thirsty. Me and Andy then went on a walk around the ground and picked up some shots from all the angles. We ventured into the mainstand to find a practice pitch on the other side of it with 10 random stand seats fitted to the back of the stand. After this we decided to make use of the grassy banks and kick back the balls that came over from the City team warming up. I did manage to volley one back over, just missing the head of Jason Mellor. 

HOMERS HEATH is a very unique football ground which is one I love greatly. The ground sits in the lovely outskirts of Newton Abbot in Kingkerswell. It is surrounded by tall trees and provides a lovely setting on a warm sunny day. As you enter the ground you come to the recently furbished clubhouse which hosts a range of sky televisions and the lovely club bar. You come out of the clubhouse into the ground and into the beer garden where you can have a drink and watch the wonderful game. This is the nearside, which is where the car park is situated as well. A rail runs all the way along allowing people to stand along this and watch the game. Opposite this is the main Buckland Stand. It is where reserved people sit and the rest for home supporters and then any left over for anyone else. It can hold about 50 people and is a very smart addition to the ground. It is only a small stand going about 1/4 of the way along. The rest is a grass bank which is also wonderful to sit, enjoy the football and the sun which is exactly what I did. To the left of this stand is the near end goal, which is a rail running along it with plenty of space in front of the trees for standing. Opposite this is another grass bank, further back this time, which can offer a good view with much space to stand and watch the game. Homers Heath is a tidy well organised ground, but lacks cover from the weather. 

Near end goal

Match report, courtesy of Kevin Porter:

Bath City came back from a goal down to ensure their passage into the next round of the FA Cup with a narrow victory over Western League Premier Division Buckland Athletic. It was a nervy afternoon which saw City take a long time to exert their superiority against an in form and confident Devon side, whose play for long periods during the match belied the difference in league status between the two clubs.

The game took place in pleasant sunny conditions on a good surface and it was Bath who showed first, creating an opening in the very first minute. The ball reached Charlie Griffin inside the home box following flicks from both Kurtis Guthrie and Adam Connolly, but the striker’s angled looping effort dropped on to the roof of the net. The hosts began to find their passing touch, and Glyn Garner was forced into an excellent diving save in the 8th minute, when Dean Stevens struck a low shot towards the bottom corner from 20 yards. The same player tried his luck again from similar distance a minute later but, this time, his shot was under hit allowing Garner to field the ball comfortably. Buckland goalkeeper, Kenny Griffiths, failed to deal effectively with a cross into his box on 10 minutes and, when Aaron Brown clipped the loose ball goalwards, it was headed off the line by Karl Green. Griffin was then fouled on the edge of the home penalty area, and Brown’s curling free kick beat the defensive wall, but Griffiths saved well at the foot of his post. Griffin picked up a pass from Chris Allen in the 14th minute, worked his way across the face of the goal, only to fire his eventual effort against the post with Griffiths beaten. Marc Canham’s free kick six minutes later from a useful position drifted harmlessly over the Athletic crossbar. The Bucks were enjoying their share of possession to this point without seriously troubling the City goal. A good move on 25 minutes created a chance for Simon Revell, but the midfielder blazed his shot high and wide from 20 yards out. With Bath struggling to put any consistent passing movement together, the hosts continued to push forward at every opportunity and, with 6 minutes left on the clock, Jamie Mudge fired wastefully wide of Garner’s goal, but the forward should have given his side the lead on 43 minutes. Luke Cummings was robbed by Danny Gaze out wide on City’s right, and the full back delivered a dangerous low cross into the box, which Mudge somehow managed to lift over the bar from inside the 6 yard box.

Buckland commenced the second period in lively mood and deservedly took the lead in the 51st minute. A partially cleared free kick was returned into the City box from the left, and the prolific Gavin Hammon made no mistake with his rasping low drive into the bottom corner of the net. City were clearly stunned by this setback and, for a short spell, they appeared devoid of ideas of how to regain a foothold in the game. However, they drew level on 59 minutes following an incisive move, as the ball eventually reached Brown on the left wing. The wingback took the pass in his stride 25 yards from goal and drilled a thunderous low drive inside the near post, beating Griffiths’ despairing dive. This gave The Romans a massive boost and they began to put the home defense under increasing pressure, driven on by Noah Keats, who had now replaced Canham. Griffin’s looping header from Cummings’ cross was held by Griffiths under his crossbar, and Connolly’s shot was deflected behind for a corner by Ben Carter, after the midfielder had turned adeptly inside Athletic’s box. Guthrie nodded just wide of the post after reaching a deep cross in the 70th minute, but City finally forged in front a minute later. Cummings produced another searching cross from the right, and Guthrie made no mistake as he planted his header into the far corner of the net. The home team fought gamely to find a response, and came close when Mike Booth glanced a header wide of Garner’s post following an in-swinging corner kick from the left. It was the Blue Square Bet South side, however, who were now showing the greater composure and they succeeded in comfortably snuffing out any attacks the hosts could muster. The closest Buckland came to an equaliser was Gaze’s drive from 20 yards that was always rising over Garner’s bar. At the other end, Connolly’s effort from the point of the box was easily gathered by Griffiths, as was Griffin’s scuffed shot in the 89th minute but, by this stage, the mission had been accomplished by the visitors.

There is no doubt that this was not an easy ride for Adie Britton’s men. Buckland gave a very good account of themselves and, for those in attendance, it was clear to see why they have enjoyed such a successful start to the season. Their passing and movement would certainly not look out of place in a higher division than that in which they currently ply their trade, and they can take great encouragement from their performance today, albeit they visibly tired in the final 15 minutes. For City’s part, they showed their greater prowess as the game wore on, will regard this as a job done, and feel relief that a proverbial banana skin has been overcome.

We had just about done it! We overcame what would have been a catastrophe and booked our place in the illustrious 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. A brilliant day out in all, topped off with a lovely walk through Newton Abbot and an enjoyable train ride home. I was knackered when I got home so opted to go to bed as soon as I got back. I'd definitely go back again!

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Far end goal

Main Stand/Grass Bank