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Since 01/08/2008

News Reports | 23.01.10

BTFC v Llangollen Town FC | 23.01.10 | Match Report

The Bucks carried on their unbeaten run from where they left off a month ago with this thumping 4-1 win over Llangollen Town.

It was a welcome return to Globe Way as well with Buckley having not played at home for nearly two months.

Understandably the game got off to a slow start but the visitors made clear that they relished the physical side of the game and were competitive in midfield throughout.

The early stages saw a few tame efforts on goal by both sides but nothing to really test either goalkeeper.

It was after 17 minutes that Colin Quirk tried a speculative long-range shot that dipped just over the bar for Buckley.

This was followed by action at the other end when a defensive lapse let in Danny Owen for Llangollen. Thankfully Jamie Hulse in the Buckley Town goal raced out to block the attempt.

On 20 minutes Buckley took the lead. Quirk fed Neil Wynne wide on the left who raced into the penalty area to coolly drill across goalkeeper Andy McGee for a far corner finish.

Just over 5 minutes later Wynne was looking for another as he turned his man only to see his shot palmed away by McGee.

After half an hour the Bucks doubled their lead and it was Wynne again who scored. He raced down the left to cut into the penalty area before blasting the ball into the roof of the net - giving McGee no chance.

Buckley were dominant by this point as Gareth Edwards then had his header from a corner headed off the line by a covering defender. Five minutes later Quirk had another shot saved.

Just before the break Simon Hulse went close with a chance during a rare Llangollen attack.

The fog which had been thickening throughout the first-half shrouded The Globe at the break and made conditions a little more difficult during the second period – for both players and supporters.

The action became scrappy and stop-start with a number of fouls being committed as the game acquired a real edge to it. This resulted in Buckley’s Phil Molyneux picking up an ankle injury as he was chopped down on 55 minutes. He was replaced with Liam Caddick.

After 60 minutes the away side made a change themselves as Tom Erratt replaced Richard Jones.

Two minutes later Llangollen managed to pull a goal back as the Bucks failed to clear their lines in and around the penalty area. After a goalmouth scramble an effort from Paul Griffiths was deemed to have crossed the line by the officials to make the score 2-1.

Shortly after Simon Smith had an attempt to level but Hulse was equal to his shot in the Bucks goal.

Two minutes later Hulse was called upon to make a superb save as he tipped a header around the post. Buckley town were living dangerously.

Llangollen’s Danny Owen had a goal disallowed for offside with 20 minutes to go as they piled the pressure on the Bucks. Thankfully a break-away was to provide the home side with relief. Joey Desormeaux carried the ball from halfway to the edge of the Llangollen area before his shot clipped the bar and a defender attempting to clear the rebound slammed the ball past his own keeper to extend Buckley’s lead to 3-1.

After 78 minutes Llangollen’s Aaron Aby picked up a booking for a foul and new signing Dan Hughes made his Buckley debut when replacing Rees Darlington. Two minutes later Craig Hughes made way for James Claybrook as the visitors made a change.

With 8 minutes to go Caddick had a shot saved by McGee which fell to Wynne but he shot wide – spurning the opportunity for what would have been a deserved hat-trick. In a similar move moments later Caddick saw his shot saved.

Dean Hardstaffe replaced Wynne with four minutes remaining and Dan Hughes blazed a shot over from a corner for Buckley.

The points were secured with two minutes to go when a great run and cross from Caddick was turned by a Llangollen defender into the back of his own net to make it 4-1.

The final action in stoppage time saw Caddick slam a shot against the bar and Colin Quirk hit the post after a mazy dribble before the referee called it a day on the Bucks first game of 2010 – a well-earned 4-1 over a decent Llangollen outfit.

Teams

Buckley Town - 1: Jamie Hulse 2: Barry Calder 3: Rees Darlington (D. Hughes) 4: Mark Orme 5: Gareth Edwards 6: Wes Brereton 7: Joey Desormeaux 8: John Leonard (Captain) 9: Neil Wynne (Hardstaffe) 10: Phil Molyneux (Caddick) 11: Colin Quirk

Subs: 12: Dan Hughes 14: Dean Hardstaffe 15: Liam Caddick 16: Danny Moore 17: Joey Makaruk

Llangollen Town – 1: Andy McGee 2: Aaron Aby 3: Kev Hope 4: Paul Griffiths 5: Craig Hughes (Claybrook) 6: Ashley Wilson 7: Danny Owen 8: Ben Powell 9: Simon Hulse 10: Richard Jones (Errat) 11: Simon Smith

Subs: 12: Tom Errat 14: Tim Pluves 15: James Claybrook

PICTURES

BTFC v Llangollen Town FC | 23.01.10 | Preview

Despite not playing for over a month the players can't wait to get back into action this Saturday against Llangollen Town. Llan began this season in superb form and gave us a good hiding up there in the 2nd game off the season, so we will have to put a decent performance together to pick up the 3 points and get our season back on track after the recent lay off.

Gareth Thomas commented that, "I cant praise the lads enough as despite the awful weather we have managed to get a few indoor training sessions sorted and both 1st team and reserve team players have shown a great desire to attend these sessions, regardless of the road conditions to get there.

"Onto the football front and it will be good to get back playing again for the lads. I feel there is still a lot of twists and turns going to happen between now and May before the league is decided, despite various websites and forums thinking the league is a 3 horse race. We still have them all to play and they have to play each other so there's plenty of points to be dropped between now and May for teams.

"As for us, and that's all I care about, Buckley Town FC's playing squad has had a slight tweak over the break and despite various rumours regarding budgets and other things I know the players here at Buckley Town are here to play football to the best of their ability and also to work hard for the club. If they where in it for the money, as has been suggested by various parties outside of the club, I'm sure they'd be playing elsewhere.

The following players have all left the club since the last game with Eric Ramsey returning to TNS, Jack Rowlands to Airbus, whilst Chris Williams has returned to his studies in America. May I take this opportunity to thank them for their time spent with the club. We have released Joe Ouslem to Rhydymwyn and Dan Pinch to Gap Connahs Quay also.

Defender Julian Jones has been ruled out for the season with his foot injury and joins Chris Boulton and Anthony Williams on the sidelines, though Ant is recovering after having an operation over the Christmas period.

As for tomorrow's game both Dean Hardstaff and Rees Darlington have recovered from injury and recent signing Dave Hughes come into the reckoning along with Wes Brereton, Gareth Edwards and Liam Caddick who all missed the last game which saw us edge past Caernarfon 1-0. Sam Roberts misses out through holiday commitments, Stuart Wood is suspended whilst Stu Hayes only returned to training this week so should come into contention in next 2 weeks.

Squad: Jamie Hulse, Joe Makaruk, Barry Calder, Rees Darlington, Gareth Edwards, Mark Orme, John Leonard (c), Colin Quirk, Joe Desormeaux, Wes Brereton, Neil Wynne, Phil Molyneaux, Liam Caddick, Dean Hardstaff, Dave Hughes, Dan Moore.

Gareth happy with current squad

Buckley Town today announce Manager Gareth Thomas has declared he is happy with his squad of around 18 players for the remainder of the season. The latest activity within that squad is the departure of loan signing Jack Rowland's back to his club Airbus UK Broughton in the Welsh Premier League, where he will remain for the rest of the season. Both Manager and Chairman at Buckley Town have thanked both Jack for his valued contributions and Airbus UK for allowing Jack to get some games under his belt in the Cymru Alliance. Manager Gareth Thomas said, "I hope Jack gets his opportunities having done well for us. He's a good lad and hopefully he will go on to play many games for Airbus in the top flight."

The other bit of news in the Squad is that talented midfielder Colin Quirk has agreed a contract with Buckley Town for the remainder of the season, with a view to agreeing an extension. This news will no doubt be a greeted well by the Buckley supporters, committee and players who appreciate what Quirk brings to the Club. It has been widely reported that Quirk would make the switch to Airbus UK or indeed other WP clubs, who were interested in his signature. Big money had been mentioned but contrary to those reports Chairman Stewart Roberts confirmed that Quirk had not discussed money with any club. "Colin played for Airbus last night in a friendly against Wrexham for two reasons: one, for Craig Harrison to have a look at Colin with the future in mind; and secondly, to give Colin 45 minutes game time as he looks to improve his fitness. Nothing more than that really. We have a good relationship with Airbus/Craig which is evident with us having had Jack Rowland's on loan and signing Phil Molyneux from there in the summer. Colin is not really motivated by money, which is a good job really because we haven't got any. He could be earning decent money in the English System if money was his motivation."

There has been a contract offer for Colin on the table since the start of the year, as we feel that he will only get better once fit. Colin has agreed that his short term future is best spent helping his team mates at Globe Way achieve the highest possible Cymru Alliance position and try to help them to a run in the NEWFA Cup. If he does that in the form he has been in then I am sure there will be plenty of clubs chasing him for the Super 12 next season, probably Airbus included.

Manager Gareth Thomas was delighted that Quirk has committed for the season stating." Colin has come in and done really well. His quality with the ball has given us something different and his midfield partnerships with Joey (Desormeaux) and Lenny (John Leonard) has given us momentum before Christmas. Hopefully we can drive on for the second half of the season." He added that, "Everyone at the club will be delighted Colin has decided his future is with us at Buckley Town."

Thomas also said, "With  Paul Connolly, Danny Pinch, Ben McKean and Joey Ouselam all leaving before Christmas, Jack Rowlands returning to Airbus UK, Chris 'Bungle' Williams returning to America and Chris Johnson's unavailability due to work commitments along with the long term injuries to Ant Williams, Chris Boulton and Julian Jones, who are all out for the season, it just shows that you do need a big squad to begin with, as you never know what's going to happen. We are down to 18 to finish the season and that includes a few of the young lads that have done really well for reserves and youth. We've got quality though and that should see us OK for our remaining games.

Chairman's reaction to the WGI's Funding Decisions

Buckley Town Football Clubs desire to gain a Domestic Licence has been dealt a major blow after apparently being turned down for both of their grant applications at last weeks WGI Meeting.

Although the Bucks have yet to be informed of the decision officially in writing they have been reliably informed that they have been unsuccessful, meaning they are now solely reliant on local and national business to help them upgrade Globe Way. Buckley Town had already secured a potentially huge investment from private business to upgrade the lights at Globe Way should they get into the top 2 in the Cymru Alliance.

Buckley's Chairman expressed deep concern as to the processes used in the grant funding decision making, questioning the need for Andrew Howard to be involved at all stating "I thought this panel made decisions based on merit for each club? To have the FAW Head of Competition giving them an update on each Domestic Licence Application prior to decisions being made says to me that Clubs unlikely to make Licensing Criteria come March-April time have been sifted out of the process in order to assist Clubs lower down improve."

"It sounds like sour grapes, I suppose, having been unsuccessful this time around but when you see the FAW Councillors looking after their own Clubs for future voting reasons its seems like the grants are being awarded for the wrong reasons - certainly not for the good of Welsh Football."

"You would have thought the WGI would have requested info from all Leagues this season due to its uniqueness - so that Leagues could advise on where best the grants would be utilised with all the impending changes. I doubt very much that has happened, other than the information the panel received from Mr Howard which has obviously influenced certain members of the panel."

"Are we disappointed - yes massively, we have put a lot of work in towards the licence application. Should we give up because of the lack of FAW Support for Feeder Clubs - absolutely not. We have every right to try and achieve a licence. People say Buckley Town should have gone up when they had the chance, but looking at the Club when I came in, they made the right decision back then and that is why we are in a position now to be very close to getting a licence. To be set back at this point makes you wonder whether that decision back then is being held against us."

"We are to continue with our application, we will continue to apply for grants, we will be happy to take our place in the newly competitive Cymru Alliance next year, if we can secure a top 6/7 position and we will hope that next time we are in a position to be challenging to go up that there will be a FAW Councillor close by to assist our application for grant aid. Without one your struggling!"

"Our focus at the Club now will be survival first and foremost in the Cymru Alliance whilst ground improvements take a back seat for obvious reasons. Once we secure our Cymru Alliance future, we can then re-assess where we are at after this Funding set back."

"We have to forget this now and move on. However, when people say to me now that the Super 12 is to be a closed shop and the FAW have their 12 ear-marked for Licence approval, I do tend to agree that could indeed be the case."

"Hopefully Mr Ford will have more integrity than others."