It was an assured performance from The Buffs as they dismantled a struggling Ashfield FC side 7-1. Despite the absence of, manager, Kevin Kelly from the dugout, as he served a 1 match suspension, The Buffs’ game plan played out almost perfectly as they dominated the game from the first minute until the last with only some sloppy defending late on preventing The Buffs from keeping a fairly rare clean sheet.
The Buffs began the game as they meant to go on when Bryan Boylan raced down the left wing before crossing the ball across the face of the goal to the back post, but Dylan Duncan just couldn’t get on the end of the cross.
Ashfield replied with an attack down there left soon after when Aiden Campbell got to the byline before whipping a dangerous ball into the box for Kieren Findlay to attack but the striker failed to connect with the ball allowing Jack Maccalman to clear the danger.
Buffs’ first real chance of the game fell to Boylan after Lamont flicked the ball brilliantly over his head into the path of Boylan who took a touch before firing a shot low that rolled just past the far post.
A poor goal kick taken by Ashfield goalkeeper, Max Clarke, forced Laughlin to head inside into a dangerous area where Cammy Kerr latched onto the ball before sliding Jack McMahon in down the left channel. Jack got on the end of the pass and chopped the ball across, defender, Craig Forbes who clumsily barged McMahon over causing the referee to point to the spot. Lamont stepped up to take the spot kick and slotted the ball high into the roof of the net to give The Buffs their first goal of the game.
It didn’t take long for another chance to come along for The Buffs when Boylan won the ball on the left-hand side before making it to the box where he crossed low towards the centre of the box. Somehow the ball evaded both Ashfield centre backs as well as Dylan Duncan and Jack McMahon who both had glorious chances to extend the lead.
It was one way traffic after The Buffs’ first goal went in and the second finally came around the 40th minute when, debutant, Euan Bowie played an excellent switch ball from left to right which set Duncan through on goal. The forward carried the ball towards the keeper before hitting his strike over Clarke and into the top right corner of the goal to double Buffs’ advantage.
However, the first half scoring did not end there when another poor kick from Clarke, in the Ashfield goal, landed at the feet of Bryan Boylan who drove down the left flank before powering the ball past the, outrushing, goalkeeper into the near bottom corner to establish a comfortable 3 goal Buffs lead heading into the interval.
It took The Buffs some time to get settled into the second half but that did not stop them from continuing their first half scoring form. Some great, interchanging, play down the right opened up the Ashfield defence allowing Mark Lamont to pick up the ball on the edge of the box in lots of space before curving the ball into the top right corner with ease.
The Buffs onslaught did not let up however and their fifth goal was added just 5 minutes after the 4th when Cammy Kerr played a delicate chip through ball over the defence and into the path of, marauding full back, Aaron Boyd who controlled the ball before finishing into the side netting with a great half volley.
Boylan came close to adding his second of the game when he made it down the left wing once again before cutting inside and letting loose towards the Ashfield goal. This time, however, Max Clarke managed to get down and pull off a brilliant stop to prevent Buffs’ 6th of the match.
Bryan didn’t have to wait long for another chance to complete his brace when he was played through on goal by a clever through ball from, 17 year old, Tyler Love. Boylan made no mistake this time as he rounded the goalkeeper before passing the ball into the open net with his left foot.
Buffs’ scoring for the day came to an end when a classic Jack Maccalman long throw found the head of Fraser Malcolm who flicked the ball over the goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner of the goal.
The clean sheet was snatched away from The Buffs in the dying seconds when Ashfield picked up on a loose ball from Jamie Ballantyne before charging down the left wing and crossing to the centre of the box where Rennie Robertson placed the ball in of the foot of the right post to net a consolation goal for his side.
Kevin Kelly’s side will now turn their attention to a clash with Rutherglen Glencairn which will undoubtably be an a much harder contest for The Buffs and could have a major say on who will find themselves in the WOSFL Premier Division next season.