Buckley Town FC

 New years day always tends to bring up an unexpected and unusual fixture for me, due in part to their being no buses and in part due to which day it falls on, this year with it being on a Thursday, a lot of non league teams have decided to play on Saturday the 3rd instead.

Anyway when I was pondering where to go, it was the flip of a coin between Buckley and Matlock, but having seen the price of a crosscountry trains train ticket to Derby, plus the fact Middlesbrough were at Derby, that swung it and I was off to North Wales. 

The day started excellently, a quiet uninterrupted journey on the train, if only more days could be like new years day when the riff raff all stay at home, it would be bliss. I arrived at Buckley, having changed at Chester and then Shotton, however Buckley is only 12 miles from Chester, just over the border. I wasn't looking forward to the walk to the ground with it being 1.4 miles, true to form for what seems like all Welsh trips too, there was a large hill involved. Google maps wanted to send me up some muddy dirt track, after initially considering it I turned back and walked the even longer way round but at least it was along the main road. Upon arriving into Buckley, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Ireland, not Wales, the Shamrock pub was open on the main road. 

Upon arrival at the ground I paid my £8 admission, using all my left over Christmas shrapnel, which the turnstile operator enjoyed as he asked 'have you raided the piggy bank.' The gents was the next stop, they had a huge porakabin type structure that hosts their clubhouse but never went in, got a pin badge on order so had no need to look in there. Next stop was the refreshments hut, mars bar and a tea £2.70, re energised me after the tough hike to get there, pies weren't ready so I went back in 30 minutes or so, only for their faulty canopy to get a gust of wind under it and crack me square on top of the head. I informed them in no uncertain terms, but was met with zero concern, they did however roll it up about 10 minutes later, good health and safety there Buckley FC!! Thankfully, I self judged at half time that although sore, the fact that I hadn't conked out I must be OK. To make things even worse, the pies still weren't ready until 1415, unheard of, I wasn't in the mood for a hot dog or for giving them my custom after events so I did without any food.

Onto the game, Buckley were out of the traps early and went ahead through a fine header, unmarked but still placed excellently. It stayed that way until half time but despite losing the left back early to injury, Mold dug in and were probably marginally the better team. The heavens opened with icy rain and the pitch was turning into a mud heap. A word for the referee, what a beard, had a look of my good old York City friend Jord Howe!

Second half and Mold were determined, a string of subs all improved them and they had Buckley on the back foot. There was a good attendance at the game including plenty from Mold, due to earlier events I also threw my vocal backing behind Mold, unusual for me. The equaliser came from a through ball, the forward sliding the ball home, Buckley protested for offside, as they moaned regularly throughout, but to no avail. More pressure followed but Mold just couldn't make it count, a long Buckley punt, the winger went down, yellow card for defender and a dangerous free kick. He didn't disappoint, curled straight into the top corner, Buckley undeservedly ahead. Mold weren't to be out done though, an excellent raking ball from number 5 to the winger that had just come on, number 11, he crossed, the ball seemed to get stuck in the strikers feet but he still had time to untangle himself and poke home from 1 yard. That was how it finished although not without Mold missing a sitter and having the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for a head injury to the Buckley keeper, how ironic, he wants to go order a sausage roll for a real head injury!

My first Cymru North game, decent ground and standard of football, no doubt more to follow in the future. Food wise I found Jim's Chinese takeaway near to Shotton station on the way back, where I had 30 minutes wait. Steak pie and chips £4.60 and an interesting chat with a local who said he had suffered a head injury, (life changing) sometime in the past, I didnt have it in me to tell him about my earlier incident, which was made to seem quite insignificant but it's funny how things sometimes follow you about. He had also suffered some kind of injury to his hand in the here and now as it was bleeding, but Jim was on hand with the blue roll for this. 

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