BUCKLING UP FOR THE FINAL THREE PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
By Rob Kershaw
Lee Hobbs has had a good chance in recent weeks to take a good look at his squad going into the new season, and there are only three games left to finalise his plans.
The boys’ next opportunity to impress the gaffer and put themselves in the Starting XI in 2022-23 takes place on Tuesday night when they head to Newton Abbot to face Buckland Athletic.
38 miles North-East of Bolitho sits Homers Heath in Newton Abbot, and the Western League Premier Division side are aiming to climb up to the top half of the table next year.
They won nine, lost six and drew three at home in the league last term, but it was their away form that stood out more as they managed eight wins on the road.
It was more than enough to keep them in the league, but they missed out on the top 10 to Keynsham by just two points.
All told, they finished with a goal difference of 14, which was the eighth best in the league – and an awful lot better than 19th placed Bridport, who lost 34 games last season and ended up with a goal difference of -168 – a season to forget for them.
Tuesday night will see us meet up with our former skipper and fan favourite Rob Farkins, who spent five years at Bolitho before heading off to Buckland last summer, and it will be great to see him again amongst others.
Buckland AthleticPlymouth Parkway
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We’ve come across Buckland plenty of times in the past. We most recently faced them at Homers Heath when a Callum Hall strike would seal the points for Parkway during the curtailed 2020/21 Western League Season.
TRAVEL
It takes around 45 minutes to drive to Kingskerswell Road up the A38 from Bolitho, and driving is realistically the only way to go.
It takes 25 minutes to walk from the train station, and in the anticipated summer heat, that will be a tiring adventure.
WEATHER
The main aspect that will make it so tiring is that the sun will be out on Tuesday, and temperatures of around 24 Degrees Celsius are forecast.
It’s another hot and sticky one, so remember to bring plenty of water and sun cream!
Kick-off has been confirmed for 7:45pm