No Love Lost in St.Valentines Day Derby Draw

Flint managed to put a turgid first half performance behind them to grab a well deserved late equaliser that kept their unbeaten start to 2015 going.
The Silkmen were caught cold after 5 minutes when a well rehearsed Buckley corner gave them the lead. Corey Smart whipped over the cross, and three of Buckley's defenders converged on the ball, before Sean Killgannon got the all important flick which sent it spinning into the Flint net, as the home side's defence was left flat-footed.
For the rest of the half, Flint were on the back foot, as the Stags showed a greater urgency and appetite to close down space and get to any loose balls first. Our only real chance in the first period came on 10 minutes, when good interplay between Abraham and Carroll, ended up with Abraham breaking through the defensive line and running in on goal. However, Ben Jones was alert enough to get down well and comfortably save the shot.
On 22 minutes, another Buckley corner once again caused mayhem in the Flint defence. The ball fell to former Silkman James Gambino, who struck a powerful shot that Elliot Power did well to block. The rebound eventually found its way to Killgannon, who took it too wide, and could only find the side netting.
One suspects a few home truths may have been spoken in the home side's dressing room at half time, as Flint started the second period with much more purpose and a higher tempo to their game.
However, the first chance fell to the visitors, 2 minutes into the second half. Killgannon cleverly flicked a ball into the path of wideman Adam Eden with his head. The winger accelerated down the left and put over an accurate cross to the far post, which was a gift for the waiting Gambino, who looked a certainty to score. Somehow Power flung himself into the path of the ball , to pull off a tremendous point blank save, and keep the home side in the match.
John Davies began getting forward more for the hosts down the right, and this would ultimately prove crucial in rescuing the point. On 49 minutes, he broke free and delivered a good ball into the middle, that resulted in Ieuan Hewitt having a good chance that he put wide of the post.
In terms of possession, it was Flint who were now the dominant side, with the visitors content to pull 10 men behind the ball, and tenaciously defend their 18 yard line, whilst looking to hit on the counter attack. Unfortunately for Flint, the massed defence, particularly down the middle, meant that all too often the final ball was easily cut out. In particular, Jack Abraham was guilty of too often running down blind alleys through the middle as he found himself having to try and beat three or four players to gain any headway. The best chance of getting back into the game was to get the ball wide, but even then the final delivery was often meat and drink to the Buckley defence, who were just happy to clear their lines.
On a rare foray forward on 63 minutes, the visitors were awarded a free kick, some 25 yards out. Kyle Reid let fly with a vicious swerving effort that looked destined for the top corner. Not for the first time, Power kept his side in the game, with a superb save that pushed the effort out for a corner.
Buckley almost caught Flint on the counter attack after 69 minutes, when a cross found the diminutive Glen Donaldson, who was inexplicably left unmarked on the edge of the six yard box. Fortunately for the home side, his header came back off the bar, and was cleared to safety.
From here on in, it was pretty much one way traffic as Flint threw everything at the opposition to try and grab the equaliser. On 75 minutes, John Davies flicked on a long throw to the far post, where the incoming Shaun Beck connected with a goalbound header, which was too near keeper Jones, who reacted well and pulled off a good save.
For much of the match, there had been an ongoing verbal exchange between the Buckley bench and the linesman, who had been warning them about encroachment onto the touchline. On 78 minutes things came to a head, as manager Tom Taylor was sent to the stands after an expletive laden outburst, as he let his emotions get the better of him.
Just as it looked like Flint's efforts were going to be in vain, the vital breakthrough came with just a minute remaining of normal time. John Davies was the provider, as one again he made ground down the right. He delivered a pacey cross that was just asking to be knocked in, and Johnny Hill obliged by volleying it into the net.
Our new found team spirit offered us a way back into a match that a couple of months ago we would surely have lost. All in all, a fair result, as Buckley dominated the first half, and we bossed the second, to keep our current unbeaten run intact. One final word to referee Phil Rozwolski, who did extremely well to keep his cards in his pocket in a typically frenetic local derby.

Teams :
Flint Town United - E. Power, J. Hill, I. Hewitt (T. Blayney 57), J. Davies, L. Camden, A. Mee, S. Carroll (c), M. Garside, S. Beck, J. Abraham, J. Douglas (M.Gunther 57). Unused Subs - J. Rush, P. Doran, J. Stanley
Buckley Town - B. Jones, K. Reid, D, Sullivan, T. Holmes (J. Harkness 25), J. Jones (c), D. Bryan, C. Smart, T. Lloyd, S. Killgannon (G. Donaldson 52), J. Gambino, A. Eden. Unused Subs - R. Swift, R. Peers, T. Taylor
Goalscorers :
Flint Town United - J Hill (89)
Buckley Town - S. Killgannon (5)

Bookings - none

Flint MOM- Elliott Power