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Buckland Athletic manager Adam Castle is travelling from Ireland on today to take charge of his team as they head into what he says is a ‘criminal’ run of four games in four days.

Castle has remained in Ireland for the last three games – two were in midweek and Saturday was his daughter’s birthday – but with assistant Ben Robinson’s wife about to give birth any day, Castle is now heading to Devon for a week that also includes next Saturday’s sixth game in eight days.

It’s a ridiculous schedule and one that Castle remains quite angry about.

“It’s mission impossible really,” said Castle. “Having to play four games in four days is criminal and should not be allowed.”

Last week, Castle revealed the full extent of his injury list. Striker Ryan Bush is out for the season after picking up a hamstring injury, as is defender Cam Kelly, with a knee injury; but it is hoped that key players Gavin Hammon, Richard Groves, Liam Drew, Cliff Walters and Nick Rudge will all be fit enough to play their part this week.

With those player out on Saturday, two young players made the step-up from the reserves and both Cole Harford and James Moxon were outstanding.

Castle said: “My overriding feeling is one of relief that we won and just as importantly we got through the game without another injury.

“To reel off three wins in the week shows great determination from the lads.

“Having all the injured players unavailable is very frustrating but on the flip side we were able to hand debuts to 16-year-old Cole Harford and 17-year-old James Moxon.

“I am sure we will see them in the first team again this season.”

It was Lloyd Gardner who opened the scoring, early on against the already-relegated Longwell Green. It was a rare header for the winger, flicking on a Connor Clifford cross.

Craig Duff scored the rest; the first goal was from the penalty spot, his second was a great strike which just crossed the line before being hoofed away. In the second half, he completed his hat-trick with a well-taken header from a Gardner corner.

Simon Revell, who retired last month, but answered Castle’s call for registered players, hit the crossbar with an audacious 35-yard strike after spotting the goalkeeper off his line. It was a shame it didn’t drop in as Revell had made quite an impression after coming off the bench.

The game followed last week’s great win at Willand Rovers, where Kai Fisher struck the only goal against his old team, and Thursday’s brilliant win against already-promoted Street, with Clifford scoring an early free-kick and ‘guest’ player Les Afful skipping past three or four players on the edge of the area before hitting a dipping shot which flew over the goalkeeper and into the top corner. It might the goal of the season from the former Exeter City and Torquay United player, who now at Taunton Town.

Buckland remain fifth in the table but win all six of their remaining games and they will be on the same amount of points with second-place Melksham, should the Wiltshire team win their remaining game, which is at Willand Rovers on Wednesday. Melksham lose there, and it’s game on! Melksham win at Willand and it will take a monstrous change in goal difference for Buckland to finish second.

Buckland’s remaining games are against Street in the semi-finals of the Les Phillips Cup on Monday night, Bridport away on Tuesday, Bitton at home on Wednesday, and Hengrove Athletic on Thursday.

Next Saturday, Buckland are at home against Cribbs; they are at home against Willand on Wednesday, May 9 and they finish their season with an away trip to Cadbury Heath the following Saturday.

Duff will be able to play against Street before a three-game suspension kicks in for Tuesday to Thursday – possibly the shortest three-game suspension in football.