BUCKLAND Athletic moved to third in the Western League on Saturday following a 3-1 win over Wellington at Wellington Playing Field.

Josh Lukins fired the hosts into an early lead but Buckland soon responded, with goals from Rob Farkins, Jared Lewington and Teigan Rosenquest turning the game around in inclement conditions.

‘That’s our second away win on the bounce and I thought, again, that it was a really professional display,’ said Buckland Head Coach Dan Hart. 

‘A lot of work goes into our preparation for these games, and when we dropped points at the start of the season in that difficult run that we had, one of the games I thought we should have won was the home game against Wellington. 

‘They celebrated that [1-1] draw – as they should – with passion but we’ve gone back over those clips and used the technology that we have to identify where we could win the game. 

‘Even on a difficult surface, it was pleasing to see the lads take on information and do the right things – particularly in the second half with the slope – and win the game. I’m really pleased with the boys and proud of how they put up with the conditions because that was very tough out there today.’

Wellington took a surprise lead after only six minutes as Lukins broke through alone and sniped home into the top corner at the near post, leaving diving goalkeeper Tyler Coombes little chance to react.

The visitors found their feet, enjoyed much more of the ball and restored parity just five minutes later. Wellington’s rearguard cleared a bouncing ball only as far as Sam Stayt wide on the right flank, who brought it under control and fired a mouthwatering cross straight back in, finding an unmarked Rosenquest at the far post. Rosenquest set himself before selflessly rolling the ball back for adventurous centre-back Farkins to blast home from the middle of the penalty area.

'Certainly this season we’re a possession-based team, so we want the ball and we want to control possession, and, for large portions of the season, we have,’ Hart explained. 

‘In periods last season we were an out-of-possession team that caused threats on the counterattack. Today we had to revert back to that at times and soak up spells of pressure in the first half against the slope; it’s extremely difficult to defend.’

In-form striker Lewington marked his 200th Buckland appearance with his fifth goal in four games six minutes after the half-time break. Left-back Sam Morcom, who found himself in the sin-bin during the first half, came out on top in a duel on the left and whipped a cross in which Lewington cleverly flicked home.

‘He’s doing very well and he needs to keep it up,’ Hart said of his striker, who now boasts 27 league goals this season. 

‘We’re a team that creates lots of chances; he’s the one that has been trusted with the number nine shirt and he’s scoring goals every week. Long may that continue. 

‘We’ll do all we can to make sure he keeps enjoying his football and scoring goals in a Buckland shirt.’

With the rain lashing down and the pitch growing heavier with each passing moment, the Bucks sealed all three points on 86 minutes as Rosenquest, who had choreographed much of the advanced play, got in behind on the left and neatly slotted home across Wellington goalkeeper Jake Viney.

‘Teigan is a manager’s dream,’ Hart admitted. 

‘He’s someone who works hard in multiple positions; he spent 10 minutes at left-back when Morcs [Sam Morcom] was sin-binned today, he played right-wing, and then left-wing when he got his goal and assist. 

‘He’s a fantastic player and someone who gives his heart and soul for every team he’s a part of and I’m really pleased for him to get his goal.

‘In the second half we had to manage the conditions and the pitch was getting heavier as the rain was coming down and we scored two quality goals to put the game away. I’m just pleased with how the lads dealt with the overall scenario of the game which could have been a real banana skin and leveller today.’