Saturday, February 3

GoCrea8 Hockey League

Southern Two

OPM 6

BUDE paid the price for a disastrous start as they were thrashed 6-0 by Plymouth-based OPM at Budehaven Sports Centre.

The home side found themselves 2-0 down within the first ten minutes after OPM capitalised on some poor defending for the first goal and then rode their luck as they converted their first short corner with a deflected strike from the top of the D.

Bude regrouped and created some half chances but crucially they were unable to find the back of the net. This was then compounded by a defensive mix up between Robin Jennings and goalkeeper Andy Davis that saw the ball ricochet to the OPM forward, who passed squarely to his strike partner to fire into the open goal and make it three.

The North Cornwall club tried valiantly and even got the ball in the goal, but the whistle had been blown for a prior infringement to give them a short corner, which they were unable to make count.

Soon after, OPM converted their own short corner routine to make it 4-0 and knock the stuffing out of Bude heading into the break.

The second-half begun with Bude controlling the game and chances began to come their way, with the best falling to Tom Hall, who went one on one with the keeper and was cynically brought down. Both teams were anticipating a penalty flick being awarded, but after a brief consultation between the umpires, they deemed a short corner was the right decision.

Yet again Bude were not able to find the target and things soon went from bad to worse as another defensive error put Davis under pressure and he was unable to clear his lines properly with the OPM striker accepting another gift of an open goal.

OPM rounded off a convincing win with a sixth goal as more poor defending left players unmarked and an easy route to goal.

Fifth-placed Bude are in action this Saturday (midday) when they travel to Lipson Community College to take on third-placed Plymouth Uni A, who are seven points better off.