DESPITE taking an early lead, Bude fell to defeat against the league leaders at Budehaven Sports Centre on Saturday.

The North Cornwall side started the brighter and took the lead when Lucy Storry deflected a strike from Cara Phillips onto the backboard.

Penzance fought back hard and the game was going from end to end, before they soon equalised.

The game continued to be equal possession for both teams meaning Maddie Old and Clare Westaway, in defence, had to chase back hard and make strong tackles to win back possession, along with Erin Slade making some brilliant tackles higher up. Tammy Snowsill and Emily Shepherd were so committed to defence they seemed to end up on the floor in most of their tackles. 

Ruby Bryant made great leads up high, creating many options to break through the strong press from the away team. Penzance continued to attack fiercely with some solid defence from Louise Shepherd and brilliant saves from Amy Gear holding them off, yet just before half-time they managed to score from a short corner, making it 2-1. 

Penzance flew out of the traps and all but wrapped up the points with three goals in quick succession.

Bude pulled themselves back together with Nim Panesar holding the middle and distributing the ball and Charlotte Gist dominating the left-wing. An excellent ball from Phillips found Leanne Stanbury who took on the keeper and worked the ball into the goal with a dive, making the game 5-2. Stanbury was later voted player-of-the-match. 

Bude again started to look stronger, and the ball was kept higher up the pitch with Eve Langman quickly stealing the ball from the opposition attack and Anna Elliot showed full determination when chasing back to defend.

Penzance managed to

score two more, making  the final score 7-2. 

Captain Amy Gear said: “We put up a strong fight against a very good team and should be proud of our tenacity in the game.

“I’d also like to thank Di Old for managing a large Bude squad and ensuring substitutions were constant. Also thanks to our umpires Andy Squirrell and Jo Timmins and our supporters on the sideline, who stayed out despite the cold wind!”