UBAFC 1’s frustrated by Marjon 1’s in cagey affair

By Faniki Deche, Sports Editor

University of Bristol Association Football Club’s (UBAFC) first team was denied an opening day victory by Plymouth Marjon in a tense game of few clear-cut chances.

Heading into the game under the lights, there was a good sense of preseason optimism from the UBAFC faithful. Four weeks of preseason and trials had created six teams all capable of achieve something special this season and by the time the 1's kicked off their latest BUCS campaign, UBAFC’s 6’s and 4’s had run out comfortable victors in their season openers whilst the 5’s had secured a valiant draw. So the mood was high for the 1’s to end a good day for the club with a win and start a potential charge for the BUCS Western Tier 1 title.

Of course, Plymouth Marjon were not going to role over easily. As a newly promoted side, they were keen to show that they were here to compete, adopting a physical approach to the game in their 3-4-3 formation. Meanwhile, UBAFC sought to counter this with their typical 4-2-3-1 that would create a 3 vs 2 in midfield. Shrewdly, knowing Marjon’s physicality, manager Alan Tyers, with his abundant choices of talented central midfielders, opted for the double pivot of the physical Ben Spano and industrious Kosuke Ono. Bringing the necessary balance of technique to play their way through and strength to physically contest with Marjon.

With that being said, the game started off cagey with Marjon setting the early pressure but unable to create any substantial chances. Eventually UBAFC grew into the game with their right sided triangle of right back Matt Greenwood, Ben Spano and right winger Jack Bilbruck all looking sharp and playing through Marjon’s press. However, there was little to come by in terms of chances and it felt like a goal would only come via a set piece. Which it did.

Twenty minutes in, a free kick for UBAFC was delivered beautifully into the box by Bilbruck. After passing through a couple of bodies, Spano triggered his striker’s instincts to be in the right place at the right time to bounce it in off his hip from the far post.

For the rest of the half, the combination of Bilbruck and Spano on set pieces looked to be UBAFC’s most dangerous threat with the two combining yet again from a corner but Spano this time was unable to land a proper connection with his head. At this point, UBAFC were mostly in control of the game through their midfield superiority but it must be said that they were a bit too one sided in their play. Favouring their right side when they had the talents of Sammy Morgan and Tom Menezes on the left, who could have been utilised more especially with the former’s crossing capabilities and the latter’s pace in behind which had caught out Marjon's backline on one occasion but they managed to recover and block Menezes cross, winning UBAFC a corner. Otherwise, Marjon had little in terms of clearcut chances in the first half until the very end when they managed to work their way to the edge of the box where their left wingback’s shot was easily saved by Ben Jackson.

The second half saw more urgency from Marjon with little creativity as they continued to rely on hopeful long balls and lucky bounces. It nearly paid off early on as their number nine was through but his attempt to lob Jackson was easily caught by the keeper. Tactically, Marjon’s strength in an attacking sense was surprisingly their back three. With UBAFC’s defensive shape consisting of a 4-4-2, this meant their centre backs had a man spare to drive up the ball past the initial press and disrupt UBAFC's defensive shape. They were trying this with their wide centre backs throughout the game but they were unable to feed it to the feet of their crowded out front-three forcing them to gamble on the long ball. But you never win the lottery without buying the ticket and with time beginning to run out, it worked.

Their right centre back found space to carry the ball into the middle third and in what turned out to be the pass of the game, sent a cross field pass that curled and found the head of their left inside forward, whose timed run beat the offside trap, and headed home. Despite changes being made to refresh the midfield and attack, UBAFC’s 1’s were unable to recapture the lead as the game ended 1-1 with the result feeling more like two points dropped than a point gained.

However, the 1’s captain, Jack Bilbruck, was more positive about the result.

'As a team we defended very well. They just produced a bit of quality in the end. But draw’s not the worst result. They are a good team and it’s a good start. Hopeful for the rest of the season. It gives us a platform to build on. There’s lots to play for but early signs are good.'

Not the desired result but smiles all round.

So perhaps more optimism should be taken away from this game. With points now on the board, a solid defensive shape, an abundance of midfielders and an exciting crop of Fresher’s. The 2024/25 season still looks bright for the UBAFC 1’s.