BUDE were eventually comfortably beaten 4-1 by Ashmoor Seconds in Totnes on Saturday as they continue to battle to avoid the drop.

After a delayed start due to an umpire running late, the opening 10 minutes saw both teams try to find their feet and rhythm on a bobbly surface.

Predictably, the home side settled the better with some early pressure and warning shots, and took the lead from a short corner routine.

Bude responded excellently as Charlie Falla made a great solo run down the right wing, and his rapid pace meant the Ashmoor captain felt he had no choice but to deliberately bring him down as he was approaching the D, resulting in a temporary suspension with a yellow card and a penalty corner to Bude.

The Cornishmen also opted for a route one option as the ball was sent out to Robbie Scragg who hit a hard low shot that the keeper saved. But as the ball rebounded back out, Falla was in the right place to send the ball flying back where it came from for 1-1.

The remainder of the first half was really even with both sides creating chances, but it was marred by the umpires’ lack of control and consistency that made it really hard for both teams to establish any great periods of pressure or momentum.

Unfortunately, Bude suffered the same fate as the previous week with a slow restart being compounded by an eager Ashmoor side who moved the ball swiftly and accurately around the pitch which resulted in a number of penalty corners. Then, in the blink of on eye, they converted two of them for a 3-1 lead.

After steadying the ship, Bude grew stronger and stronger as the game went on and for the final quarter were all over the home side as shots reigned in from all directions including from Falla and Scragg who earnt themselves a joint man-of-the-match award. But even their impressive performances and shots were unable to find a way past the home keeper.

With so much effort and desire by the whole team to press for a goal until the final minutes, it meant they were always going to be exposed on the counter-attack, and despite a few scares and goal-line clearances, they kept the home side at bay right until the final minutes when they were undone by a late counter as a low straight strike found its way through a number of players and into the net.

In reality, the game was a lot close than the scoreline suggests, and Bude can take a lot of positives from the game as they try to take some momentum and confidence into this Saturday’s important derby game at local rivals Bodmin (11am) who are struggling for form and currently sit at the bottom of the table.

However, both sides will be up for the game as the Seasiders chase three important points as they look to extend their seven-point lead over second bottom Duchy.