Bude battle back for draw after Berry's hat-trick

LAUNCESTON have never beaten the Seasiders in a competitive fixture, but will surely not have come closer that in this pulsating game at Broadclose Park.

The Clarets led 3-1 going into added time but a resilient home side refused to accept defeat and scored twice in the closing minutes to earn a point.

This was probably Launceston’s best display of the season and they led from the 10th minute when Kian Berry robbed left-back Fin Haste and ran clear before slotting his shot under home keeper Jack Arthur.

The lively Berry was combining well with fellow striker Lee Robinson, and the home side struggled to get a foothold in the game during the first half.

After 30 minutes Berry won a loose ball on the right and ran 40 yards before slotting a precise shot in off the far post. It was a superb goal by the in-form striker.

Robinson was dominant in the air and the home defence struggled to cope with the threat posed by the impressive two-man Launceston strike force, supported by the influential Dylan Rangecroft.

Ray Spear pulled Bude back into the game on the stroke of half-time with an opportunistic strike from 20 yards, only for Berry to immediately complete his hat-trick, once again running clear from halfway to beat Arthur.

Playing down the slope after the break, Bude were always going to pose an increased attacking threat and so it proved, with Clarets keeper Howie Evans working overtime.

Harry Hopcroft was sin-binned for a dissent offence, but the frantic pace of a highly-entertaining game showed no sign of slowing.

Rangecroft picked up a yellow card before Evans was forced into a superb save to deny the dangerous Billy Hopcroft. The same man then jinked his way across the edge of the penalty area before firing over from 20 yards. He was subsequently withdrawn.

Bude substitute Tega Olaosebikan came on and immediately posed a threat with his raw pace.

Lee Robinson was next to be shown to the sin-bin, having continued his protests longer than the referee judged acceptable. Tension built as a compelling game entered the final stages and Bude joint manager Tornado Bello was shown a yellow card for his prolonged protests.

Just as Launceston looked to have done enough to claim all three points, Bude threw men forward and Olaosebikan seized on a loose ball to poke home the equaliser.

The pressure was now relentless and, deep into added time, a mistimed tackle saw the referee point to the spot. Spear unerringly drove home the resultant penalty and immediately the referee blew to end a tremendous game which saw Bude show real commitment to fight their way back into a game that looked lost.

Meanwhile, a draw was tough to take for this young Launceston side, but their marked improvement continues as they look to continue their recent climb up the table.

BUDE TOWN: Jack Arthur; Marley Cunningham, Jake Woodland, Harry Hopcroft (capt), Fin Haste; Harry Banks, Nathan Colley; Piran Friend, Dylan Morgan, Billy Hopcroft; Ray Spear. Subs: Leam Powell (gk), Tega Olaosebikan, Ernie Rix, Steve Hackett.

LAUNCESTON: Howie Evans; Ryan Dawe, Taylor Davey, Alex Parnell, Tom Manuel, Harry Eaton, Tom Bullock, Gino Garside, Lee Robinson (capt), Dylan Rangecroft, Kian Berry. Subs: Mike Steele, Kaiet Rasche, George Davey.

Men-of-the-match: Bude Town – Harry Banks; Launceston – Kian Berry.