Saturday, January 11

Verde Recreo Hockey League

Southern Two

Bude 1

Camborne School of Mines 4

FOUR first-half goals saw Bude start the new year with an emphatic defeat at home to Camborne School of Mines.

The West Cornwall side flew out of the blocks and early pressure off the ball by their youthful and spritely youngsters caused Bude numerous problems. This was compounded by sloppy errors from Bude which gave Camborne easy ball in the middle of the pitch.

From there they used the ball well to feed a dynamic frontline who began to create some good openings yet home keeper Andy Davis was more than equal to them, pulling off a vast array of solid saves. However he was finally undone as an intended cross was cruelly deflected, looping high into the top corner.

This spurred Camborne on and their simple but quick hockey got them 2-0 up shortly after; in a blink of an eye two further goals came from similar fashion as Camborne seemed to find time and space all over the pitch.

A shellshocked Bude tried hard to compose themselves but found it very difficult with a now very confident and rampant Camborne, they did create a few chances of their own even hitting the post but they could not force a goal and the better chances kept falling to the visitors, but they did not extend their lead due to some dogged defence and last gasp saves by Davis.

It was no surprise that Bude were glad when the half-time whistle came as this allowed them to regroup and address the first-half issues which they did fantastically.

Right from the whistle Bude dominated possession and territory which started creating chances for them but they were unable to make it count as the chances came and agonisingly went as they struggled to find the killer instinct that their opponents showed so ruthlessly in the first-half.

As the game wore on Camborne managed a few excellent shots but Davis earned his man-of-match award by denying them any further goals which included a high stick save in the top corner from a short corner drag flick.

This kept the momentum in Bude’s favour and they worked tirelessly to the final whistle to keep creating chances to try and get the goal their performance so deserved. It was late on when they did eventually get the consolation as a diving, stretching Henry Gwynn-Thomas forced the ball home from close range.

Bude will try to block out the first-half performance and focus on the much-improved second as they make the short trip south to mid-table Duchy A tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Bude’s ladies resume their West Clubs Women’s Hockey League South Division campaign tomorrow when they host Okehampton at the Budehaven Sports Centre (2.30pm).