
United hosted unbeaten title contenders Deanshanger at Lace Hill on Saturday and were looking to ruffle feathers from the off.
United more than matched Deanshanger in all areas of the pitch, with Dave Akam looking particularly up for the game - the opening stages of the game were hotly contested but neither team managed any clear opportunities. Deanshanger did create the only major action in the first half, when against the run of play an Athletic player picked up a clearance to release an instinctive drive that Adam Bray tipped onto the post - a great reaction save.
United's high intensity had Deanshanger on the back foot and the boys in blue and white forced a corner early in the second half - the ball was whipped in with venom, and James Hayden-Watts assured United took a deserved lead with a bullet header into the roof of the net inside the six yard box.
Minutes later Deanshanger went on the attack, following a ball that was floated over the defence and into the right channel. The Deanshanger forward knocked the ball past the onrushing defender with his first touch, then sprinted past the last man before rifling home at the near post. An unbelievable goal that served a crushing blow to United, as well as offering a painful reminder of exactly why Deanshanger have yet to lose a league fixture this season.
United continued strongly, and Dave Akam ghosted through the Deanshanger defence from deep. Through one on one, Akam almost rounded the goalkeeper to slot into an empty net - but between the keeper and covering defender, Deanshanger somehow managed to apply enough pressure on Akam to stop the tireless midfielder from grabbing a goal that his performance deserved.
Jonathan Ackroyd soon found himself in a near identical situation and sped towards the onrushing goalkeeper - Ackroyd kept his composure and slipped the ball behond the goalkeeper's reach to give United a 2-1 lead, and huge morale booster in a blink of the eye.
Deanshanger were on the ropes, and United could sense a chance to secure victory - the second half subs in particular began to pick the ball up in advanced positions, and drew a number of fouls as Deanshanger struggled to cope with the constant onslaught.
United searched for a third, and Jimi Jones provided the spark. Jones performed a fake shot before lobbing the ball over the Deanshanger defence. The defender, stretching to get to the ball could only head upwards and Jack Stuchbury bullied his defender, to get the ball under control and slide Jamie Richardson in on goal who finished with finesse into the bottom left hand corner. Jubilant celebrations, a victory secured, and Deanshanger's unbeaten run comes to an end - a massive scalp for Ant Weight's side.
Next up for Buckingham United Reserves is Padbury Reserves, and an opportunity to complete a league double.