31/10/15: On Saturday 31 October Mendip took on top of the table Team Bath Buccs D and took them all the way in a thrilling encounter, only going down in the end by a solitary goal.
Buccs started well and played with a high tempo from the off but Mendip squared up to the challenge and competed in all areas of the field and with the quality of the quartet of Rich Briscoe, Andy Wood, Josh Sutton and Will Lawton patrolling the midfield, the visitors did not have it all their own way.
With Liam providing pace down the wings Mendip were always an attacking force and John Lippiatt opened the scoring to reward their endeavours. However the lead lasted only a matter of minutes as the hosts momentarily switched off and allowed Buccs to break forward at speed. Leigh Taylor in goal made a splendid block save but the defence were slow to react when the ball broke free in the D and a Buccs forward pounced to equalise from close range. Not deterred, Mendip shrugged off the set back and went about their business with both steeliness and flare and it was not long before they went into the lead again when Steve Smith fired in from a short corner and man-of-the-match Will was on hand to deflect home in a well rehearsed move.
Now Buccs are undoubtedly a very good side and the Mendip back line had to be alert to dangerous forays but Rich Penn was an absolute colossus in the heart of the defence and snuffed out many an attack.
Mendip extended their lead when Steve fired home near the end of the half and the buoyant hosts were getting ready for the break only to once again be caught cold in a carbon copy of Buccs first goal and despite Leigh’s timely intervention to smother the initial shot the ball squirted loose and was forced home by a lively forward who was quickest to react so the half time oranges did not taste quite so sweet.
After a frank exchange at half time the mood in the Mendip camp mysteriously changed and they came out less bullish, handing the initiative to the visitors who grabbed the gift with both hands and gradually started to wrestle control. The Mendip midfield worked hard and more or less cancelled out their opposition but a contrived aerial ball over the top by the Buccs insidious centre back was misjudged by the Mendip defence and was severely punished when it bounced favourably for a Buccs forward who hit a first time shot to level the scores.
Buccs maybe sensed that Mendip’s resistance was starting to wane and they stepped up their play, having a ‘purple patch’ of possession and during the following 5 or 10 minutes were able to forced home their advantage, taking the lead through their front line protagonist who converted for his hat-trick.
As always Mendip showed their “never say die” attitude and rallied and battled gamely to the end but they were never quite able to get back on a level footing and the visitors were able to see out the rest of the contest without further anxiety. That said, the cheer that went up at the end of the match suggested that this was one that Buccs were mightily relieved to have won and was one that Mendip had perhaps let slip.
The team was: Leigh Taylor, Giles Denning, Rich Penn, Oli Beechener, Josh Sutton, Pete Waddington, Will Lawton, Rich Briscoe, Andy Wood, Liam Young, Steve Smith and John Lippiatt.
Thanks to Hayley Bullock and Vicky Parfitt for umpiring.
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