Dissapointing 4-0 loss

Our Premier League campaign came to an end in a disappointing fashion with a 4-0 loss Saturday Buckingham’s at the University of Birmingham. The disappointment at the loss was compounded by the fact that nearest rivals Bowdon could only draw with bottom placed Beeston which meant that a win would have seen Buckingham safe and avoiding the playoffs.

The game began well, and it was Buckingham who enjoyed the brighter start, creating a couple of good early openings and being the better side in the opening ten minutes. However, the home side were warming to the task and it was they that had the better of the next period. Yet it was a comedy of errors around the back that resulted in a gift of a goal for the home side in the 24th minute that broke the deadlock.

With Birmingham also needing a win and other results to go their way in order to earn a place in the top four, they pushed forward but with player of the match Frankie Scott to the fore, Buckingham defended well to go into half time 1-0 down.

The second half started poorly as a cheap in midfield turnover followed by some clinical passing saw the home side double their lead inside the first three minutes.

From then on it was always going to be an uphill battle with Buckingham needing to score at least three goals to have any chance of winning the game. Something they had only managed once before this season. As Buckingham threw players forward they inevitably left bigger gaps and it was only a matter of time before the home side capitalized, scoring another two quick goals in the 49th and 52nd minutes to put the game beyond any doubt.

With a quarter of the match still left things could have been even worse, but to the squads credit, they battled hard for the remainder of the game and could easily have scored a couple of consolation goals had it not been for some fine goalkeeping.

The result means that Buckingham enter the playoffs for the for the 5th time in five years. This time as the premier League team rather than as a conference winner. The first game is against East Champions East Grinstead this Sunday at Cannock Hockey Club.

Zak Jones
"We started well, but the manner in which we conceded the first goal really took the wind out of our sails and once the second goal went in so early in the second half, we never really looked like getting anything from the game. In all honesty, it was not one of our better performances and whilst we have felt aggrieved not to have taken something more from many of our games this season, this was not one where that was the case. However, I was really pleased with the character, resilience and fighting spirit we showed in keeping playing until the final whistle as these are all qualities that will be important during the playoff tournament."