League Cup 1st Round Match

Godolphin 3     Bude 4

Bude produced the shock of the league cup putting out the undefeated Premier league team and current holders of this trophy Godolphin.  It looked like it was going to be a tough afternoon for Bude when the home side scored after just 5 minutes. An effortless passing move was finished when a cross from the right picked out Phil Lowry who rose to guide a header in to the far corner of the goal.  Bude soon picked up the pace of the game and won a penalty after 15 mins after a push in the box on Josh Kerslake.  Tommy Statton stepped up to equalise from the spot.  Bude nearly went ahead when Kerslake was put through by Statton and scored only to see it ruled out for offside.  Godolphin though regained their lead after a slip in the Bude defence allowed Matthew Hallett to receive and score with an early shot.  They nearly increased their lead soon after when a long range effort struck the post. Coming out for the second half a goal behind Bude knew they had to continue to work hard and their effort started to pay off on the hour when Dan Midelton received the ball on the edge of the box, dragged the ball on to his favoured left foot and curled a shot in to the bottom left hand corner. Within a couple of minutes Bude were ahead when a lightning quick run down the left from full back Liam Sandercock saw him get to the by line and cut the ball back in to the box for Kerslake who had caught up with his team mate and scored with a shot down the middle of the goal.  Godolphin were never going to give up easily and forced extra time when Shane Hickling scored from close range in the 85th minute after the ball had struck the crossbar.  Godolphin started to tire more than the young Bude side in extra time and it was Bude who created the better chances, Stevie Box having the best chance in the first period when through on goal, his strike was put over the bar with just the keeper to beat.  With the game just 5 minutes from penalties it was striker Billy Hopcroft who grabbed the winner, a hashed clearance from the home defence saw Statton head in to Hopcrofts' path who dummied the outcoming keeper taking the ball round to the left and slotting the ball in from 10 yards out and securing their place in the quarter final of the competition and also received the 'Sunday Independent' 'Team Of The Day' award.