AS the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League season draws ever closer, Post area teams in both the Premier Division and Division One (West) have been getting match practice in the sun with Bude Town, Camelford and Launceston all enjoying comfortable wins.

Bude Town news

THE Seasders played two friendlies this week as their preparation continues for the upcoming season.

A Halwill XI were the first visitors to Broadclose Park on Tuesday evening and both sides played out a hard fought friendly in which Bude ran out 4-1 winners.

The first-half was a little bit scrappy but the deadlock was eventually broken in the 40th minute by winger Josh Allen when his cross somehow found its way into the Halwill net.

Bude doubled their advantage when Hayden White rolled his defender and unleashed a venomous drive from 30 yards which cannoned in off the far post.

Bude quickly put the game to bed with a nice finish from Nathan Bonney and a fantastic team goal swept home by the impressive Paul Banks.

A bit of late drama in the last ten minutes saw Allen blaze a penalty over the bar for Bude and then Bude’s new signing Jase Winser (playing for Halwill) fire home a 30 yarder of his own to give his old club a consolation against his new one.

On Saturday it was South West Peninsula League Division One (East) side Alphington who made the trip to North Cornwall.

Another good crowd were again treated to an entertaining game which ended 2-2.

Bude took an early lead in the 15th minute when an excellent Scott Percy strike from the edge of the box found the bottom corner. Jake Salt doubled the scoring on the half-hour mark when he pounced on a poor back pass and rounded the impressive Jack McAndrew to make it 2-0.

The Alphas responded on the stroke of half-time when a foul in the box resulted in a penalty, which was duly dispatched by ex-Plymouth Argyle striker Mark Saunders. The second 45 saw plenty of changes made and the game opened up with both sides having plenty of chances.

The equaliser came in the 85th minute when Bude’s stand in goalkeeper misjudged a corner allowing the Alphington striker an easy tap-in on the line.

Bude travel to Camelford tonight (Thursday, July 26) for a 7.30pm kick-off.

Thursday, July 19

Camelford 2

Holsworthy 0

CAMELFORD made it back-to-back pre-season victories over Holsworthy at Trefrew Park.

Goals from Josh Penrose and Connor Rhodes saw off the challenge of their Division One (West) visitors.

Holsworthy’s tough pre-season continued on Saturrday as they lost at Camelford’s South West Peninsula League Premier Division rivals Newquay by five goals to one.

Carlo Chandler grabbed the Magpies’ consolation.

Saturday, July 21

Plymstock United 1

Launceston 4

PREMIER Division side Launceston travelled to the impressive new £2-million Plymouth Argyle complex at Manadon on Saturday, to face Division One (West) Plymstock under the guidance of their new management team of Mike Walton and Mark Blake following the recent departure of Gary Jeffery.

After an end-to-end opening spell, Launceston took the lead on the half-hour with a neat close range finish by Rhys Walton.

Ruben Kane doubled the advantage just before half-time with a fine 15-yard cross-shot which flew past Lee Fletcher, who made a League Cup appearance for the Clarets last season.

Both sides made a series of substitutions at the break but the North Cornwall side remained firmly in control.

The promising Tom Savigar made it 3-0 after 55 minutes, with substitute Chris Wright powering home a fourth on the hour.

Plymstock grabbed a consolation goal as Launceston made a series of personnel and positional changes, but the final score of 4-1 was a fair reflection of a useful afternoon’s workout.

The Clarets stepped up their pre-season preparation with a visit to newly-promoted Western League Plymouth Parkway last night before they return to Manadon next Saturday to face another Division One (West) side in Plymouth Marjons (2pm).

See next week’s Post to get the thoughts of Launceston’s new management team ahead of the new season.