BUDE Town bounced back from their Good Friday defeat at neighbours Holsworthy with a 2-1 defeat at third bottom St Day on Easter Monday.

The hosts led at the break when Luke Hart bundled home from close-range, but after man-of-the-match Dylan Morgan levelled matters six minutes into the second half, Piran Friend’s fine goal on 63 minutes gave the visitors three points which keep them going along nicely in seventh.

The Seasiders made just one alteration from their defeat at Upcott Field as Abdul Deifa was given a first start for the club up front in the absence of Billy Hopcroft.

The bench had an unfamiliar look to it with reserve team players Josh Pearce and Billy Hopgood, who were both introduced late on, being given an opportunity.

On an immaculate surface at Vogue Park, the Seasiders started positively but trailed midway through the half in controversial circumstances. Bude felt a player had been offside in the build-up to a corner, but the ball in wasn’t dealt with properly, allowing Hart to make no mistake.

Bude huffed and puffed before the break, but failed to seriously test Michael Palmer in the home net.

The talk at the break was to move the home side’s big defence around the pitch, but it from a set-piece that they made it all square as Finn Reeve’s brilliant corner to the far post landed on the head of Morgan to do the rest from four yards.

Within five minutes the turnaround was complete with Friend featuring at the start and end of the move.

After picking up possession near halfway, he beat a couple of men before finding midfielder Nathan Colley. The former Okehampton player then beat an opponent which allowed a pass to Friend who then drove a low finish into the far corner from 15 yards.

St Day then started to throw caution to the wind, but found the visiting defence in miserly mood as keeper Ty Rowe was rarely tested.

Bude held on comfortably enough as well as seeing Deifa and Harrison Swatton both go close, before another long trip west this Saturday at Wendron United (3pm).

Reflecting on the afternoon, Seasiders boss Steve Hackett said: “It was great for us to have such a quick turnaround after Holsworthy.

“We felt a bit hard done by on Friday as we felt decisions didn’t go our way and we should have got at least a point.

“But it was great to get back to winning ways and the most pleasing thing from a manager’s standpoint is that half-time we talked about what wasn’t working and what was, and the players realised themselves that we needed to move it around, and they went out there and did that.

“As a manager it’s great when that comes off quickly, so it was a good day and we now look forward to Saturday at Wendron.”

Hackett also had praise for three of his starting line-up, adding: “Dylan was again superb. He was targeted a fair bit because of his quick touches, but he was brilliant, as was Nathan Colley in midfield, and Harry (Hopcroft) did well at the back.”

Wendron sit eight behind the Seasiders with two games in-hand and will be determined for a much-improved performance than their shock 4-0 hammering at Launceston on Easter Monday.

Hackett concluded: “Wendron are always difficult to play down there, so the boys know we’ll need to be at it. But if we play to our ability then hopefully we’ll come away with some points.

“Billy (Hopcroft) and Tornado (Bello) should be back in the squad on Saturday which really boosts our attacking options.

“It also means we can rotate when needed and it’s always great to have competition for places.”

BUDE TOWN: Ty Rowe; Jake Woodland, Harry Hopcroft, James Wheeler, Finn Reeve (capt); Nathan Colley, Dylan Morgan; Ollie Cleave, Harrison Swatton, Piran Friend; Abdul Deifa. Subs: Marshall Chapman, Ryan Leverton, Josh Pearce, Billy Hopgood, Aaron Hart.

Seasiders’ man-of-the-match: Dylan Morgan.