Saturday, February 10

GoCrea8 Hockey League

Southern Two

Plymouth Uni A 2

BUDE put in a vastly improved performance but still fell to a 2-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Plymouth Uni A in the Southern Two division of the GoCrea8 Hockey League last Saturday.

The North Cornwall club travelled with another reshuffled team but were looking to put the recent poor results behind them.

The game started evenly with the majority of the ball being fought for in the midfield. Plymouth started creating the better opportunities but the Bude defence were back to their old ways remaining tight, resolute and solid at all times to keep the students at bay.

It was no coincidence that Paul Floyd had returned to his favourable position just in front of the back three where he was able to marshal and dictate the defensive outfit, his superb performance throughout the whole game inspired the defence and brought the calmness and confidence back that they had been lacking in recent games.

Plymouth broke the deadlock midway through the first-half as a well-worked short corner routine hit the backboard.

Bude knew they were playing well and continued to do so for the rest of the half with Cayden Gill making some fruitful runs down the left wing. However they were unable to take any of the chances that they were creating and with Plymouth gaining a slight advantage in the midfield they made it through to goal on a number of occasions but keeper Andy Davis was in fine form stopping all shots with every part of his body even without even knowing it.

The second-half continued in the same vain with Plymouth attacking but not able to get past keeper Davis. When they did the defenders were on hand to clear the ball off the line; most notably by Robin Jennings who saved a drag flick shot that was heading in the top corner.

One of Bude’s best chances fell to Timon Chapman who, after a strong solo run down the left-hand side, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball towards goal from the acutest of angles, but was unlucky to see it hit the post and rebound back out.

As the game drew to a close, Plymouth were awarded a penalty flick as the ball deflected off a defender’s foot on the way to goal, the Plymouth striker stepped up and sent Davis the wrong way to make the score more comfortable than the game actually was.

Bude played well and will need to continue this into the next couple of games to gain the last few points they need to keep them in such a competitive league.

They’re next in action on Saturday when they welcome league leaders Sidmouth and Ottery A to the Budehaven Sports Centre (2.30pm). The Devon side have picked up 42 points from their 17 games, losing just once while Bude are sixth with 23 points from the same number of games played as Saturday’s visitors.