Duff targets Vase win after Buckland go out of FA Cup

BUCKLAND ATHLETIC

Bukland Athletic manager Craig Duff says his team ‘owe the supporters a big performance’ next weekend when they host Newquay in the FA Vase.

After getting through two rounds of the FA Cup this season, Buckland were beaten 3-0 away in second round qualifying by Berkshire side Binfield.

And after winning just one of their five Western League Premier Division games so far this season, Duff is eager to make up for the disappointment against their Peninsula League visitors this weekend.

Buckland were 2-0 down within four minutes at Binfield – and once again were fielding a weaker team than the manager would have liked.

A few key players like Richard Groves and Duff himself did return – though assistant manager Chris McPhee remains not as available as he would like to be.

Duff said: “I am obviously massively disappointed after Saturday. We have started the match extremely slow and that has cost us dearly.

“We missed a couple of chances just before half time that would have changed things – but ifs and buts don’t win you games of football.

“I am looking forward to the Newquay match. We are back home where we seem to be performing well and we owe the supporters a big performance.”

Buckland reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase in the 2016-17 season and director of football Adam Castle would like a similar run this time.

But he knows, after losing players like Jared Lewington and Lloyd Gardner, who are both playing for Truro City in National League South this season, the team is not as strong as it was then – with stalwart striker Gavin Hammon also still out injured. Charlie Johansen has just joined Bovey Tracey and Josh Webber has been playing for Stoke Gabriel.

Castle said: “I think everyone is disappointed that a slow start has ultimately cost us the game on Saturday – but you know at this stage of the competition there are no easy games. You’ve got to be mentally ready and perhaps the players weren’t quite at the level required after such a long journey.

“But it’s gone now and we move onto the FA Vase where we were quarter finalists just two seasons ago.

“We have a home tie and we will be confident of progressing past Newquay.”

Castle added: “However, it’s all about ‘on the day’ and the fact they beat Western League opposition in the previous round – Hengrove – means we won’t be underestimating them at all.”